PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has awarded posthumously the highest honour in Nigeria, GCFR, to late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12th, 1993 cancelled elections and his running mate as Vice President, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, is also to be invested with a GCON.
Also in recognition of ‘the tireless fighter for human rights and the actualisation of the June 12th elections and indeed for Democracy in general, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN is to be awarded posthumously a GCON.’
This was just as the Federal Government has declared June 12 now Democracy Day.
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The declaration was contained in a statement personally signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The release reads:
“For the past 18 years’ Nigerians have been celebrating May 29th as Democracy Day. That was the date when for the second time in our history, an elected civilian administration took over from a military government. The first time this happened was on October 21st, 1979.
“But in the view of Nigerians, as shared by this administration, June 12th, 1993, was far more symbolic of Democracy in the Nigerian context than May 29th or even October 1st.
“Accordingly, after the consultations, the Federal Government has decided that henceforth, June 12th will be celebrated as as Democracy Day. Therefore, government has decided to award posthumously the highest honour of the land, GCFR, to late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12th, 1993 cancelled elections. his running mate as Vice President, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, is also to be invested with a GCON. Furthermore, the tireless fighter for human rights and the actualisation of the June 12th elections and indeed for Democracy in general, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN is to be awarded posthumously a GCON.
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“The commemoration and investors will take place on Tuesday, June 12th, 2018, a day which in future years will replace May 29th as a national public holiday in celebration of Nigeria Democracy Day.”
