Nigeria’s governing Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has ventilated its limitless joy over Wednesday’s declaration by its government of President Muhammadu Buhari of June 12 as Democracy Day just as it also granted posthumous award of Nigeria’s highest national honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) to Alhaji Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, winner of the June 12 1993 annulled by military regime of General Ibrahim Babamasi Babangida.
While joining Nigerians from all walks of life in commending President Buhari for this decision which has attracted positive reactions across the country and beyond, the APC however called on the President to consider granting similar honour on Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, wife of the late democracy crusader who fought and died together with him.
These were all contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday and signed by National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER.
Abdullahi, who is also a former Nigeria’s Minister of Sports and Youths Development, said: “The APC believes that Alhaja Kudirat Abiola who paid the supreme price with her assassination in Lagos on June 4, 1996 at the heat of the mobilisation for the restoration of her husband’s mandate as the winner of the 1993 presidential election, deserves to be honoured in her own right as a heroin and martyr of democracy in Nigeria.
“APC recall how she mobilised market women, students, activists and other human rights community against military rule and the struggle for a truly democratic nation.
“The Party equally commend the decision to honour Abiola’s running mate, Babagana Kingibe, and late human rights activist, Gani Fawehinmi SAN with the second highest national honour, Grand Commander of the Niger (GCON).
“In taking this courageous and patriotic decision, the President has again displayed a sincerity of purpose and his well-known penchant for doing the right thing irrespective of political and sundry considerations. As a Party, we remain resolved in our struggle to deepen our democracy and continue to improve on the transparency and credibility of our electoral systems. We reiterate that regardless of its imperfections, democracy remains the best form of government that can best serve the interest of our people.
“We affirm that this decision by President Buhari yet again exemplifies APC’s commitment to the sanctity of popular elections and respect for the right of the people to freely choose their leaders in accordance to that fundamental principle of democracy that no man has the right to exercise power over other men, except with their consent,” he said.
