The House of Representatives on Thursday finally approved June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria and abrogated May 29 as put before the National Assembly President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari.
File: President Buhari, middle, flanked to his right by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Ambassador Kingibe and to his left by son of MKO Abiola, Kola, and wife of the late activists Gani Fawehinmi, Ganiyat, on Tuesday, June 12, 2018.
President Buhari had, in June this year, declared that June 12 would henceforth be recognised as National Democracy Day but noted that it will be effective only after it has been passed into law by National Assembly.
Previously, May 29 is always observed as Democracy Day since 1999.
But President Muhammadu Buhari, earlier in the year declared that June 12 would now be marked as Democracy Day and a day to handover power.
However, the House of Reps’ approval followed the adoption of a report on an executive bill seeking to amend the Public Holidays Act 2004.
The lawmakers approved the amendments to three clauses in the Act, as recommended in the report.
One of the clauses deleted May 29 as Democracy Day and replaced the date with June 12.
The amendment has put an end to age-long dispute that June 12 should be made Democracy Day failed to be achieved under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was popularly believed to be direct and immediate beneficiary of the sacrifices of June 12, 1993 crusade as epitomised by late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.
President Buhari bending down to held Mrs Ganiyat Fawehinmi on the day of her late husband’s posthumous honour of GCON on June 12, 2018 in Abuja.
MKO Abiola won the freest election conducted in Nigeria’s history on June 12, 1993 and the election was annulled by the military junta of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, IBB.
For decades, activists and human rights bodies have been protesting and canvassing the recognition of Abiola by making June 12 Democracy Day instead of the May 29 instituted by Obasanjo Administration.
It became actualised under the Buhari Administration, who June 12 this year officially recognised, conferred on Abiola, posthumously, the highest honour in the country, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).
Abiola’s running mate still alive, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, as well as late human rights lawyer and an apostle of justice over June 12 struggle, late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, were respectively honoured with the national award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).
