BEVERLY HILLS, June 11, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s former Vice-President and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has called on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government to immortalise the acclaimed winner of the June 1993 presidential election, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, by naming a befitting national institution after the late politician.
Describing the late Abiola as a businessman, philanthropist and patriot, he noted that the events of June 12, 1993 remained a watershed in the history of Nigeria which can never be forgotten.
In a goodwill message on the occasion of 24th anniversary of the mandate believed to have been won by the presidential candidate of the defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP but annulled by then military president, Ibrahim Babangida; the ex-VP described Abiola as a national “Hero and Patriot” deserving of accolades and honour by Nigerians.
The Waziri Adamawa further declared that “June 12 and the events that brought it are part of our country’s history and cannot be forgotten, especially because of the unity and comradeship displayed by Nigerians on that Election Day in 1993.”
He maintained that the events of June 12, 1993 were “a watershed in the history of the nation and therefore it behoves on all Nigerians to work hard to ensure that the nation never again repeats that painful experience”.
Atiku recalled that June 12 traumatized Nigerians and made some people to question the unity and oneness of the country and whether true democracy can take root in the country.
He commended Nigerians for moving beyond the challenges thrown up by the June 12 election and putting in place a democratic system of government that has endured for 18 years.
“It is a testimony to the innate democratic nature of Nigerians that today, democracy is flourishing in the country adding that restructuring of the country as being demanded by some well-meaning Nigerians would further consolidate democracy and give greater impetus to the unity and development of the country,” the former vice president said.
He went on to declare that the restructuring of Nigeria would lay a solid foundation for prosperity and self-reliant development across the country by introducing healthy competition among the constituent parts of the federation based on the principle of comparative advantage.
