The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has said that the death of the winner of the annulled June 12,1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola is not in vain, because democracy has come.to stay in Nigeria.
Adams said this on Monday at the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the June 12, 1993 poll, which took place in Ogba, Lagos.
He also used the occasion to call on President Bola Tinubu to fulfil the dreams of a prosperous Nigeria, which was what Abiola stood for.
He noted that the late Abiola equally stood for justice, freedom, equity, liberty, and sustainability of democratic tenets, as he tenaciously wished to eradicate poverty in the land.
The Yoruba generalissimo, however, while noting that things could be better with a proper approach amid challenges that had threatened the foundation of this democracy, quickly noted that much could not be achieved “if our democracy is tied to the 1999 constitution that we are using presently in Nigeria.”
The Guest Lecturer, Dr Oseni Taiwo Afis, a professor of Philosophy and Director, Special Interventions from the Lagos State University (LASU), spoke on the topic: “June 12 election: Identity Politics and the National Question,” explaining the role of socio-cultural groups and individuals in advancing democracy.
The guest lecturer, while noting that Abiola’s view on nation-building was on the inclusive government where every ethnic nationality would be included in government, restated the need for the new administration of President Tinubu to look into the influx of Nigerians leaving the country for greener pastures in what has been tagged Japa, saying there was a need for the administration to work on how those great Nigerians would return to the country in order to rebuild the country.
This was just as he appreciated the efforts of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in sustaining the ideals of this democracy, expressing the belief that Nigerian history would always be kind to the group.
“We must appreciate the efforts of OPC in sustaining the ideals of this democracy and I believe that Nigerian history will always be kind to the group,” he said.
President of Women Arise Initiative (WAI), Dr Joe Okei Odumakin, spoke about the need to continue to re-invent the spirit of June 12 in the national consciousness as was being done annually.
The rights activist, in her remark, appealed to President Tinubu to de-annul the June 12 election won by the late Abiola, saying that the late business mogul “must be recognized as one of our past presidents” as he died for the collective struggle in the country.
