June 12: Otunba Ashiru Sues for Peace, Unity

Nigerians have been urged to use the occasion of June 12 celebration to pray for unity, peace and justice in the country as a true reflection of the lessons imbibed from the historic 1993 presidential election adjudged to be the most credible ever where electorate across all barriers voted overwhelmingly for the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) late Chief MKO Abiola.

Honourable Commissioner for Commerce and Industry and consensus aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun East Senatorial District, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru stated this in his message on the celebration of Democracy Day.

Observation of June 12 as the authentic Democracy Day in Nigeria, Otunba Ashiru said opened another glorious chapter in our political history as a nation as it further entrenched the ideals of democracy and underscored the commitment of the present Administration under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari to fast track the essence of democracy as people’s government.

“The nation was put on the brink some twenty five years ago when the election was annulled and five years after in 1998 when the symbol of the struggle, Chief MKO Abiola died in custody”.

“The incident occasioned by protests, destruction of property, arrests, imprisonment and assassination remained indelible in the psyche of Nigerians and the date became a recurring decimal remembered with bitter experience and unprecedented trauma which only God averted what could have resulted in another mayhem”.

Commending the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to revisit the election and recognise Chief MKO Abiola as the winner and confer on him the highest National honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), Otunba Ashiru stated was unprecedented and described it as an act that will shoot up the country’s rating in the comity of nations as a country that is committed to the tenets of self government.  Otunba Ashiru also commended the Governor of Ogun State for his steadfastness in the actualisation of the official recognition of June 12 through his incessant calls and advocacy that have always brought Chief Abiola’s contribution to the development of democracy on the front burner every year.

“The efforts of Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun must not go unsung considering his altruistic commitment to make Ogun indigenes and residents savour dividends of democracy by embarking on projects that will eradicate poverty and create wealth in abundance for the people. This was the main theme of the SDP campaign then and the best way to remember a fallen hero and martyr of democracy is to hold aloft his glowing attribute,” he concluded.