Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has described the June 12, 1993 election as a watershed in Nigeria’s history.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s programme organised by the Oodua People’s Congress in partnership with the Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Adams said celebrating the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the June 12, 1993 annulled election with a programme of this nature is symbolic.
He said this was because it coincides with the Federal Government’s gesture of honouring the martyr of democracy, the late MKO Abiola, with the highest honour in the country and declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day instead of May 29.
Adams said: “The greatest gift for Nigerians to mark this year’s anniversary of June 12 is the honour done on the late Basorun MKO Abiola and several others that paid the supreme price for this democracy to stand, and the declaration of the day as Democracy Day. It was a tortuous journey and I think those of us that are alive today need to be commended for upholding the ideal of the struggle and for keeping faith with the ideal of the late MKO Abiola.”
Adams said the group will give awards to 22 eminent Nigerians for their support and courage in the course of the June 12 struggle.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Lagos State Council of the NUJ, Dr.Qasim Akinreti, said the Union is partnering with OPC to celebrate the event in a special way, adding that the highest honour given to Abiola and the declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day are signs of hope to Nigerians.
The 25th anniversary of the June 12 annulled election will come up on Tuesday at Excellence Hotel, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos.
Senator Shehu Sanni is the chairman of the event.
Prof. Derin Ologbenla is the Guest Lecturer.
Other eminent dignitaries are also expected at the event, which begins at 11am.