7th June, 2018
PRESS RELEASE:
MURIC COMMENDS BUHARI FOR DECLARING
JUNE 12 DEMOCRACY DAY
The Federal Government yesterday
declared June 12 as Democracy Day. It also posthumously awarded the highest
honour of the land, GCFR, to late Chief MKO Abiola, the winner of the June 12th
1993 presidential election. His running mate as Vice President, Ambassador Baba
Gana Kingibe, is also to be invested with a GCON. Furthermore, late Chief Gani
Fawehinmi SAN, the indefatigable promoter of human rights and the man who
fought relentlessly for the actualization of the June 12th elections
and indeed for democracy in general, is to be awarded the GCON.
The
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) received this great news with great joy. We are
overwhelmed with emotions. This is the boldest step ever taken by any civilian
administration since 1999. We commend President Muhammadu Buhari for
identifying with democratic and progressive elements in this country. The
recognition of June 12 is another strong evidence of ‘change’. It further
cements Buhari’s forthrightness, courage, love of justice and flair for
fairplay.
June 12th, 1993 was the
day Nigerians in their millions expressed their democratic will in the freest,
fairest and most peaceful elections since independence. But greedy, selfish and
tyrannical elements in the military annulled that election and held the winner
captive and incommunicado for four years (1994 – 1998).
His wife, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, who
was the greatest heroine of Nigeria’s democracy, was killed in the most bizarre
manner while the husband was still in detention. Worse still, the military totalitarian
dictators made sure that MKO Abiola, the hero of democracy, died in captivity
(July 1998). Nothing could have out-Heroded Herod than the brutalization of the
Abiola family and the destabilization of the MKO Abiola family business.
MURIC has always held that May 29th
which was picked by previous regimes to mark Democracy Day was fraudulent and
that June 12 was far more truly symbolic of Democracy in the Nigerian context.
To this end, we have issued statements every year since 1999 demanding the
recognition of June 12 as Democracy Day and condemning the celebration of
democracy on May 29. We appreciate the Federal Government for eventually
sharing this sentiment. It is, indeed, a great achievement for us.
We
doff our hats for the family of the late Chief MKO Abiola especially for their
tenacity, doggedness and forbearance in the face of severe trials sequel to the
criminal annulment of the results of the June 12, 1993 election and the
assassination of MKO. We still grieve over the cruel killing of both MKO and Kudirat,
his loving wife. We beseech Allah to forgive the couple, to grant them
Al-Jannah and to continue to strengthen their families.
We send special solidarity message
to Muhammed Fawehinmi, son of late Gani Fawehinmi and his mother, Mrs. Ganiyat
Fawehinmi, who is indubitably a leading Nigerian amazon and the entire
Fawehinmi family.
We also congratulate all Nigerians
for this landmark decision. In particular, and with the Campaign for Democracy
(CD) foremost on our mind, we felicitate with civil society and all human
rights activists. In this respect, we single out late Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti,
foremost leader of the CD, the tireless lawyer, humanist and human rights
activist, Femi Falana SAN and Dr. Sylvester Odion Akhaine, CD’s first secretary
general.
This
singular action has marked out President Buhari as a true democrat and a
champion of liberty. It belies the allegation of dictatorial tendency leveled
against Buhari by his critics. Buhari has taken a step in the right direction
and his name will be written in letters of gold in the hall of fame. It is most
thoughtful and highly visionary. Buhari has delivered a major dividend of
democracy. He has also hearkened to the yearnings of the people.
But
to whom much is given, much is expected. Having proved level-headed, transparent,
accountable, prudent and truly democratic, the present administration deserves
the support of all Nigerians. Nay, a second term to enable it cross the ‘t’s
and dot the ‘i’s.
This epoch-making
decision should placate not only members of the old National Democratic
Coalition (NADECO) but also Afenifere, all Egba sons and daughters and the
Yoruba as a whole. Contrary to the misleading belief that Yorubas are
marginalized, a Northerner, nay, a Fulani president has recognized a Yoruba
hero. Not only that, a Yoruba man is the current number two citizen, a Yoruba
man holds three powerful ministries: power, works and housing. This is in
addition to two other major portfolios, viz, finance and communications held by
two other prominent Yoruba citizens. The Yoruba never had it so rosy.
Yet like Oliver Twist, MURIC will
ask for more from the father of this great nation, President Muhammadu Buhari.
The declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day will definitely heal wounds and we
appeal that another giant step should be taken to heal more wounds. We are
referring to the case of Ken Saro Wiwa, the environmental activist of the Niger
Delta. His case still hurts the Ogoni people in particular and the Niger Delta
region in general.
We
in MURIC believe that the killing of Ken Saro Wiwa was extra-judicial,
unlawful, illegitimate and unconstitutional. Ken was murdered in his prime
before his appeal was due. His killing was one of the unwise and unpatriotic
actions taken by the military to fuel the hatred of one Nigerian ethnic group
for another. We appeal to Mr. President to review his case, grant him
presidential pardon, compensate his family adequately and give him a posthumous
award of no less a status than the one given Gani Fawehinmi.
On a last note, MURIC affirms that the
declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day confirms the good intention of this
administration. It confirms that this regime is prepared to reward hardwork,
honesty and integrity. We therefore ask for prayers in all churches and mosques
for Nigeria to overcome all obstacles, for peace to reign in the land, for love
to permeate all nooks and cranies of our great country and for divine wisdom
and guidance for President Muhammadu Buhari.
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern
(MURIC)
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