The senator representing Kaduna Central senatorial district in the National Assembly, Sen. Shehu Sani has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari’s recognition of June 12 as the nation’s new Democracy Day.
In a press statement he personally signed, Buhari said, “Dear Nigerians, I am delighted to announce that, after due consultations, the Federal Govt has decided that henceforth, June 12 will be celebrated as Democracy Day. We have also decided to award posthumously the highest Honour in the land, GCFR, to the late Chief MKO Abiola.
“Chief Abiola’s running mate, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, is also to be awarded a GCON. Furthermore, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, tireless fighter for human rights and democracy, and for the actualization of the June 12, 1993 elections, will be posthumously awarded a GCON.
“In the view of Nigerians, as shared by this Administration, June 12, 1993 was and is far more symbolic of Democracy in the Nigerian context than May 29, or even October 1.
“June 12, 1993 was the day millions of Nigerians expressed their Democratic will in the freest, fairest & most peaceful elections since our Independence. That the outcome of that election was not upheld by the then military Govt does not detract from its democratic credentials.”
Before Wednesday’s announcement, Nigeria’s “Democracy Day” had been celebrated every May 29 to mark the return to civilian rule on May 29, 1999, when General Abdulsalami Abubakar voluntarily handed over power to President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Sani, a pro-democracy activist with the Campaign for Democracy (CD), Nigeria’s umbrella pro-democracy group during the General Sani Abacha regime, hailed the president’s recognition of the efforts of pro-democracy activists in the 1990s.
Taking to his verified Twitter handle, Sani said, “The official recognition and honor accorded to Chief MKO,Chief Gani and the June 12 pro democracy struggle by the PMB Govt is commendable. Our 1993 mass action against military dictatorship has been crowned. A fierce battle we fought & a recognition we humbly appreciate.”
Sani was jailed for life after he was implicated in the 1995 phantom coup before his sentence was commuted to 15 years by the Patrick Aziza Special Military Tribunal, which also tried Generals Olusegun Obasanjo and Shehu Yar’Adua.