June 12: Akeredolu commends Buhari for honouring Abiola

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo has commended the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to recognise June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria.

Buhari had on Wednesday, June 6, declared that June 12 would henceforth be known as Democracy Day in the country.

The declaration was in honour of late Chief Moshood Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12 1993 presidential election in the country.

The June 12 presidential election, described as the freest and fairest election in Nigeria’s history, was annulled by former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

Though the results of the election were not fully announced before it was annulled, Abiola was believed to have won the election based on collations from all the states. Abiola later died in government detention in pursuit of his mandate.

Buhari, also on Wednesday, June 6, 2018, conferred Abiola with posthumous award of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).

The Ondo Governor, represented by his Deputy, Mr Agboola Ajayi, while welcoming the new Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Mr Ade Adetimehin on Thursday in Akure, said the President’s declaration showed he was a democrat and a progressive man to honour Abiola after 25 years.

Akeredolu said “Buhari is a progressive man, no matter how you hide the truth, one day it will eventually come out; we want to appreciate Mr President for that great move.

“It is a thing of consolation for the entire democrats in Nigeria, especially the South West after 25 years.”

On the new chairman of the party in the state, Akeredolu said he was happy because even before taking oath of office he had started making peace moves in the state.

He noted that Adetimehin was an experienced politician and was happy that the congress that brought him in never recorded casualty in the state.

The new Ondo APC Chairman, Adetimehin, thanked the people for standing by him and promised to serve the party to the best of his ability.

Adetimehin said his first task was to unite members because he never believed in division or crack in the party.

The party chairman also hailed the president’s decision to recognise June 12 as Democracy Day in the country.