Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has said that
immortalising the late business mogul, Chief Moshood Abiola, is not
enough, stressing that the last 21 years of civil rule in Nigeria
have been full of sorrow and tears.
Falana, who called into a live programme on Jamz F. M. in
Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, urged true patriots in the country
to intensify the struggle for genuine democracy.
He said: “One of the policies carried out by the Buhari
adminitration is the recognition of June as a public holiday and
replacement of Democracy Day which was originally May 29.
“Those who set May 29 as a Democracy Day did so out of spite.
I’m talking about Olusegun Obasanjo adminitration, that for eight
years refused to recognize the supreme sacrifice paid by Bashorun
MKO Abiola in the restoration of democracy in Nigeria. It was very
good on the part of this administration to have recognized that
day.
“But it is not enough to immortalize MKO. It is not enough to
recognize June 12 as a democracy day. The last 21 years have been
civil rule of disenchantment and frustration on the part of the
majority of Nigerians.
“Only a few people, infinitesimal of politicians, can be said to
have benefited from civil rule. Only a few politicians are smiling
to the bank at the expense of our people. The point I’m making is
that, the last 21 years have been years of sorrow and tears for our
people. That is why the struggle to have genuine democracy must be
intensified by genuine patriots in this country”.
This came as the Eze Ndigbo of Oyo State, Dr Alex Anozie
declared that the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election
was the worst thing that has ever happened in the history of
Nigeria.
Anozie made this declaration during the Democracy Day organized
by the Oyo State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ)
at the Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
According to him, the annulment of June 12 is one of the worst
things that has ever happened to Nigeria because it was an
injustice in its totalty.
Anozie noted that religion and ethnicity should not be a problem
in Nigeria, adding that if the 1993 election had been allowed to
stay, it would have been the the vehicle to turn Nigeria
around.
He said: “Injustice is forcing us to do what we are doing now in
Nigeria, religion and ethnicity has also been dividing us, we need
to come together and move this country to a greater height.”
In his welcome address, the Oyo NUJ chairman, Com. Ademola
Babalola, pointed out that Abiola was a man of many parts who
contributed immensely to Nigerian press, adding that the late
politician was a detribalized Nigerian.
“In 1993, Nigerians put aside tribalism and sentiment and voted
for the candidate of their choice as president but the election was
later set aside. He was a philanthropist who touched many lives,”
he said.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has said that
immortalising the late business mogul, Chief Moshood Abiola, is not
enough, stressing that the last 21 years of civil rule in Nigeria
have been full of sorrow and tears.
Falana, who called into a live programme on Jamz F. M. in
Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, urged true patriots in the country
to intensify the struggle for genuine democracy.
He said: “One of the policies carried out by the Buhari
adminitration is the recognition of June as a public holiday and
replacement of Democracy Day which was originally May 29.
“Those who set May 29 as a Democracy Day did so out of spite.
I’m talking about Olusegun Obasanjo adminitration, that for eight
years refused to recognize the supreme sacrifice paid by Bashorun
MKO Abiola in the restoration of democracy in Nigeria. It was very
good on the part of this administration to have recognized that
day.
“But it is not enough to immortalize MKO. It is not enough to
recognize June 12 as a democracy day. The last 21 years have been
civil rule of disenchantment and frustration on the part of the
majority of Nigerians.
“Only a few people, infinitesimal of politicians, can be said to
have benefited from civil rule. Only a few politicians are smiling
to the bank at the expense of our people. The point I’m making is
that, the last 21 years have been years of sorrow and tears for our
people. That is why the struggle to have genuine democracy must be
intensified by genuine patriots in this country”.
This came as the Eze Ndigbo of Oyo State, Dr Alex Anozie
declared that the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election
was the worst thing that has ever happened in the history of
Nigeria.
Anozie made this declaration during the Democracy Day organized
by the Oyo State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ)
at the Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
According to him, the annulment of June 12 is one of the worst
things that has ever happened to Nigeria because it was an
injustice in its totalty.
Anozie noted that religion and ethnicity should not be a problem
in Nigeria, adding that if the 1993 election had been allowed to
stay, it would have been the the vehicle to turn Nigeria
around.
He said: “Injustice is forcing us to do what we are doing now in
Nigeria, religion and ethnicity has also been dividing us, we need
to come together and move this country to a greater height.”
In his welcome address, the Oyo NUJ chairman, Com. Ademola
Babalola, pointed out that Abiola was a man of many parts who
contributed immensely to Nigerian press, adding that the late
politician was a detribalized Nigerian.
“In 1993, Nigerians put aside tribalism and sentiment and voted
for the candidate of their choice as president but the election was
later set aside. He was a philanthropist who touched many lives,”
he said.