June 12: Activists Stage Rally in Osun ...Urge Buhari to Implement MKO Abiola's Farewell to Poverty Blueprint

The Pro-democracy activists in Osun State staged a peaceful demonstration in Osogbo, the state capital on Sunday in commemoration of the 23rds anniversary of the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election.

The rally which set out at the popular Ayetoro junction terminated at the popular Olaiya junction where top activists addressed the people on the significance of June 12 election to the nation’s democratic experience.

The pro-democracy activists who participated in the rally include Comrade Amitolu Shitu, Comrade Waheed Lawal, Dr Olowogboyega Oyebade, Comrade Waheed Saka, Barr. Toyin Eweje, Barr. Rahmon Shenge, Comrade Wale Balogun and Comrade Wale Adebisi among others who took turn to address people during the rally.

They called on federal government to recognize June 12 as democracy Day instead of May 29.

They commended Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for declaring Monday 13, as public holiday in Osun State to mark the annulment of June 12, 1993 election and for remembrance of late Moshood Kasimawo Olawale Abiola who was believed to have won the election that was adjudged as the freest and fairest election in the country.

The pro-democracy activists advised other state governors to emulate Aregbesola by giving due recognition to June 12, emphasizing that the struggle that followed the annulment of June 12 election paved way for the enthronement of democratic rule in the country in 1999, insisting that June 12 must be seen as the real democracy day.

The activists also lamented that Nigerian citizens have not enjoyed adequate dividends of democracy and called on government at all levels to provide socio-amenities for the people to ameliorate the suffering tormenting Nigerian people especially the downtrodden masses as being championed by MKO Abiola.     

While calling on the federal government to address the economic crisis that the nation was plunged into due to bad leadership, the activists hailed the anti-corruption efforts of the present government of President Muhammadu Buhari and urged the president to fight corruption to standstill.

Speaking on behalf of the groups, National Coordinator, Committee for Democracy and Rights of the People, CDRP, Comrade Amitolu Shittu, condemned the excuses by some states who did not declare public holiday, especially in the South West, that this year June 12 was on Sunday.

He maintained that the fact that it falls on Sunday does not prevent them from declaring holiday.

He said "I have disagreement with states that already declared public holiday in the last two years, but now trying to reverse their decision. It shows hypocrisy and hypocrisy is not good before our God.

"God cursed hypocrites. Those who are in that kind of character should have rethink. By next year, we will prepare for them if they want to hide under weekend, we will not take it from them.

Comrade Amitolu, who also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to look into the M. K. O. Abiola Farewell to Poverty blueprint, stressed that "it is a document that meet the test of time.

Speaking, the Osun state Chairman, Human Right Network, Comrade Saka Waheed, maintained that June 12 is not for South-West people but Nigeria in general.

He urged people to correct the impression that June 12 is meant for South-West, saying "it is Nigeria election that was adjudged the most fairest, freest and most credible.

Comrade Waheed also insisted that Farewell to Poverty of Abiola must be implemented by the present government in the country