June 12 democracy day: Buhari honors MKO Abiola with GCRF

Late MKO Abiola

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday directed that, henceforth, the nation’s Democracy Day will be holding on June 12 of every year, as against the current arrangement where the ceremony holds on May 29.

Buhari has also resolved to honour the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, with the highest national honour, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic.

The President disclosed this in a statement he signed and made available to journalists. He said he reached the decisions after due consultations.

He said their investiture would take place on June 12.

The statement read, “For the past 18 years, Nigerians have been celebrating May 29, as Democracy Day. That was the date when, for the second time in our history, an elected civilian administration took over from a military government. The first time this happened was on October 21, 1979.

“Therefore, government has decided to award posthumously the highest honour of the land, GCFR, to late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 cancelled elections.

“The investiture will take place on Tuesday June 12, 2018, a date which in future years will replace May 29 as a National Public Holiday in celebration of Nigeria Democracy Day.”