Eminent Nigerians have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to officially announce the June 12 presidential election result and as well declare Moshood Abiola as president elect.
Former Nigeria Ambassador to the Philippine, Dr Yemi Farounbi, Chief Lekan Alabi, Professor Mathew Umukoro and Barrister Festus Adedayo were among prominent Nigerians who made the call at a programme convened by Chief Lekan Alabi to commemorate June 12 Anniversary with the theme ‘June 12, Now Nigeria’s Authentic Democracy Day’ held at Omo Ajorosun Club, Agodi, Ibadan.
The 1993 presidential election which was presumed to have been won by the candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP), late MKO Abiola, was described by Dr. Yemi Farounbi as the fairest and freest in the country.
The former Nigeria Ambassador to the Philippine, Yemi farounbi explained that the significance of June 12, 1993 presidential election was a day all Nigerians shunned tribal, ethnic nationality and religion differences and voluntarily against all expectations voted for what should have been a landmark, what should have been a turning point, what should have been a new beginning for a greater Nigeria.
His words, “When we remember that, it challenges us because the country was so united that religion didn’t matter, that the country was once united that ethnic nationality didn’t matter, that this country was once so united that what mattered to us was who to serve us, who will better articulate the wishes of the masses, who will provide for the hopeless, helpless and joyless of the poor but for the man who said farewell to poverty for all Nigerians.”
Ambassador Farounbi urged Nigerians to remain hopeful and continue to pray for the country because it has potentials to be great again, “to remind ourselves that Nigeria can be great because it has shown the potentials of greatness before.”
The convener of the programme, Chief Lekan Alabi, in his welcome address, expressed appreciation and gave kudos to the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government for taking the bold step which seven past administrations both civilian and military could not take. He described it as unprecedented and that it consented to the yearnings of patriotic Nigerians and other democrats all over the world.
“As God and we, His people, will have finally triumphed over evil, the federal government of Nigeria has laid out a red carpet celebration of Nigeria’s genuine Democracy Day today, Wednesday, June 12, this year.”
Lekan Alabi, while lamenting the current state of affairs in the country, enumerated challenges facing the country at that tribulation time of 1993 in the World Press Conference held on June 18, 1993 and read by Chief Ebenezer Babatope on the country’s state of affairs.
According to Chief Alabi, “I highlighted 3 points, one, Nigeria was in comatose, universities were on strike, hospitals were closed, cost of living had skyrocketed, there was fear in the polity, infrastructures were zero, food prices were skyrocketing on June 18, 1993. This is June 12, 2019, 26 years later, I am sorry to say the situation of Nigeria is worse off now than then.
“But when government comes out with policies and always responds to the people’s yearning you will know that they are not sleeping. So, a responsive, listening government will be challenged to do more, because the past governments particularly the military were not only deaf, they were mischievous but there is always light at the end of tunnel,” Chief Lekan Alabi submitted.
Some of the dignitaries that graced the event included representatives of Eze Ndigbo in Oyo State, representatives Of Ebira Community in Oyo State, President, Omo Ajorosun Club, Chief Solomon Babalola, founding Chairman, MKO Dynamic Group, Kola Oyebamiji and Ms Folashade Haastrup.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
