A former External Affairs Minister, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi Photo: PressNg
A movement tabled on the 2014 confab, in search of due recognition for the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late Moshood Abiola, introduced disagreement amongst contributors, in response to a former Minister of External Affairs and Vice Chairman of the 2014 National Conference, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi.
He, nevertheless, praised President Muhammadu Buhari for recognising Abiola’s victory in what is commonly described as probably the most credible election within the nation’s 57-year historical past.
The elder statesman additionally hailed the choice to confer on the late Abiola, the nationwide honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, virtually 20 years after his demise.
Abiola’s working mate, Babagana Kingibe, and the late human rights lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi, had been additionally singled out for Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger honours.
Akinyemi, in a assertion titled ‘On honouring MKO Abiola and June 12’, stated, “President Muhammadu Buhari has addressed a number of the wounds inflicted on this nation and utilized therapeutic balm on these wounds. Only those that misplaced members of the family, these imprisoned and detained or who had members of the family imprisoned and detained, these tortured and people pushed into exile had felt the necessity for some measure of closure. That closure was achieved on June 6 by the chief order issued by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The courage of the President in tackling this issue should be acknowledged. As the Deputy Chairman of the 2014 National Conference, I recall that when the issue of June 12 was raised, it almost tore the conference apart. I also recall that the issue of June 12 had been raised in different sessions of the National Assembly without resolution.”
The former minister additionally appealed to the President to recollect different Nigerians who had additionally performed energetic roles within the pro-democracy battle.
“People like Dan Suleiman, Ndubuisi Kanu, Frank Kokori, John Oyegun, Dr. (Amos) Akingba, Bagauda Kaltho and others deserve national honours in future exercises,” he stated.
Akinyemi acknowledged that the declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day is a victory for all Nigerians, not simply for many who voted for Abiola.
“The voting sample on June 12, 1993 sealed the cleavages which have bedevilled Nigeria because the unification by Lugard. The annulment of the election outcomes reopened and deepened these cleavages.
“I recognise and accept that the June 6 Presidential Executive Order has applied some balm on these cleavages and therefore should be welcomed as a national rather than a sectional victory,” he additionally stated.