June 12: Buhari has put an end to May 29 hypocrisy - Falana
- Femi Falana welcomed the declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day
- The human rights lawyer asked the government to adopt Abiola’s welfare programme
- He also said Kudirat Abiola deserves an award as she died fighting for her husband’s mandate
A human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for granting a post humous national award of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Chief M. K. O. Abiola.
The Cable reports that Falana also said the declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day was an end to the hypocrisy of celebrating it on May 29.
According to him, it “validated the integrity of the fair and free election that was criminally annulled by the Ibrahim Babangida junta”.
He said the Muhammadu Buhari administration has made history by conferring the post humous national award of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Chief M. K. O. Abiola, who was the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election for his huge contribution to the restoration of democratic rule in Nigeria.
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“By declaring June 12 Democracy Day the federal government has officially validated the integrity of the fair and free election that was criminally annulled by the Ibrahim Babangida junta.
“By recognizing June 12 as Democracy Day the federal government has put an end to the hypocrisy of May 29 which was proclaimed by the Olusegun Obasanjo regime. By confering the post humous award of national award of Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON) on Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN the federal government has officially endorsed his enormous contributions to the titanic battle against military dictatorship and promotion of human rights in Nigeria.
“In addition to the historic gesture the federal government should proceed to adopt chief Abiola’s programme of welfare to poverty and respect the human rights of all Nigerians which Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN championed and defended in his life time.
“In particular, the federal government should mark the first national democracy day on June 12, 2018 with the release of all citizens who are being detained illegally all over the country and immediate compliance with all valid and subsisting court orders," Falana said.
He also called on the government to award Kudirat Abiola as she died fighting for her husband’s mandate.
Legit.ng had earlier reported that President Buhari announced that June 12 will be celebrated as the new Democracy Day. The president announced this via his Facebook page on Wednesday, June 6.
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The president also announced that the late Chief Moshood Abiola who was adjudged the winner of the cancelled June 12, 1993 election will be posthumously awarded the highest honour in the land, GCFR.
TODAY’S GIST: Democracy Day! What is There to Celebrate? - Nigerians Lament on Legit.ng TV
Source: Legit.ng
