Daughter of late Abiola Hafsat
One of late MKO Abiola’s daughters Hafsat Abiola-Costello has counseled President Muhammadu Buhari for declaring 12 June as Nigeria’s Democracy Day.
Buhari on Wednesday modified the date for the occasion from May 29 to June 12 in honour of the late Abiola.
Abiola was the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which was annulled by then army president, Ibrahim Babangida.
The President mentioned the federal authorities shared the view of Nigerians that June 12 was extra symbolic than May 29 and even Oct.1 as Democracy Day .
“June 12 ,1993 was the day when Nigerians in millions expressed their democratic will in what was indisputably the freest, fairest election since our independence,” Buhari mentioned.
“The fact that the outcome of that election was not upheld does not distract from the democratic credentials of the process.”
And Abiola-Costello, in an assertion on Thursday, mentioned the declaration had ended the household’s lengthy wait for presidency to recognise their father.
She described the declaration as a succour and a triumph of justice after 20 years of ready.
“There are no words that can capture the depth of my gratitude nor the breadth of my joy,” she mentioned.
“I thank God that I'm alive to witness many extra days when justice triumphs over injustice, when vanity and fraud and when the blood of our heroes attain from throughout the time to boldly declare the reward that their actions wrought.
“May the sacrifices of our past heroes and heroines never be in vain,” she mentioned.