We Will Never Drop Our Commitment To June 12 - Aregbesola

...Says May 29 Remains a Child To June 12

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has disclosed that in spite the emergence of the All Progressives Congress led the Federal Government, his government would not for whatever reason stop recognizing the commemoration of June 12 as national Democracy Day.

Aregbesola also reaffirmed that he would never drop his commitment towards the glorification of June 12 as a day that symbolizes unequivocal affirmation of the unity of the country by Nigerians across all divides.

Governor Aregbesola stated this in a statement issued in commemoration of this year June 12.

Aregbesola noted that the continued celebration of June 12 as Democracy Day became a sine qua non in the political history of Nigeria as it was the only day Nigerians, in their heterogeneity voted for Chief Moshood Abiola in a pattern that defied ethnicity, religion, ideology and locality.

The Governor who described May 29 as a child of June 12, argued that, it was the unrelenting pursuit of the actualization of June 12 with the sweat and blood of patriots and nationalists that led to military disengagement and civilian rule on May 29.

Aregbesola who saluted and commended the courage of the patriots that sacrificed everything they had including their lives in the cause of June 12 and birth of democracy in Nigeria, pledged that the spirit of the historic presidential election of June 12, 1993, won by Bashorun Moshood Abiola would never be forgotten. 

According to him, "those fought for the sustainability of this democracy remained our heroes and heroines. They will never be forgotten, but will live in our hearts forever. 

"Though we acknowledge that democracy anywhere is an unfinished business but we must keep nurturing it with the nutrients of peace, love and hard work and protect it with mutual respect, tolerance and unbounded patriotism".

Aregbesola said though May 29, in 1999, was the date the military handed over power to civilian administration, opined thatJune 12 would remain symbolic in the political structure of Nigeria as it represents the day of reckoning and the realization of a truly democratic government that approximates the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

He said the time has come for Nigerians to keep nurturing the present democracy with the nutrients of peace, love and hard work and protect it with mutual respect, tolerance and unbounded patriotism.

He said, "today marks the 23rd anniversary of the historic presidential election of June 12, 1993, won by Bashorun Moshood Abiola.

"It would be recalled that Nigerians, in their heterogeneity, on June 12, 1993, voted for Chief Abiola in a pattern that defied ethnicity, religion, ideology and locality.

"Though the election was cruelly disallowed and the winner arrested and put in unjust incarceration (for daring to affirm his victory), where he later died in what has remained mysterious circumstances.

"But We will never drop our commitment to June 12 as we have kept faith since, in celebrating that date as Democracy Day. 

"June 12 is most symbolic of democracy as that, it was the date Nigerians freely expressed their choice on whom to be their leader; it was also the date of unequivocal affirmation of the unity of the country by Nigerians across all divides.

"It was a pattern that made mockery of the fabled fault-lines and fissiparous tendencies of the Nigerian federation and projected a nation united behind a popular leader.

Aregbesola who commended the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for living up to the expectations of Nigerians, said his emergence represents hope for change and national rebirth widely aspired by Nigerians.

He assured Nigerians of continuous demonstration of good governance, saying government with a human face had been enthroned to power as President Buhari according him represents the aspirations and symbolism of June 12 just as he got a pan-Nigerian mandate that once again defied the divisions in the country.

Governor said his administration since  inauguration has been putting people at heart and worked to make democracy meaningful and impactful.

He said every policy and decision made by his government was aimed to further the peoples’ interest and lift them from the morass of hopelessness, helplessness, dejection, poverty and ignorance into the cape of peace, security, prosperity and abundant life.

Aregbesola boasted that his government had successfully revived education with new schools, free meals, free school uniforms, improved infrastructure, motivation for teachers and so on. 

He said, "We have created tens of thousands of jobs directly and indirectly through O'YES, O'REAP, O'MEALS, OPON IMO, O'AMBULANCE, O'SCHOOL, AGBA OSUN, O'BOPS, O'FOPS and other ‘Os’.

"We have enhanced transportation and beauty of our landscape with the construction of over 1,000 kilometres of roads across the state.

"We have vigorously pursued urban renewal and sent flooding packing from our state just as we have rehabilitated hospitals and improved healthcare delivery for all the people.

"We have also encouraged agriculture, made food to be abundantly available and made farmers to be prosperous.

The state helmsman further noted that the current government in the state had also deepened democracy by allowing the opposition a robust room to operate and not retaliating all the wrongs suffered while in opposition. 

According to him, "Our accommodating spirit and genuine outreach to all have won the leading lights of the opposition to our side and made democratic participation in Osun to be more inclusive. 

"We have enhanced the rights of all to freely worship as he or she deems fit. We have done all these because we value the people.

He therefore lauded the state workers for their extreme understanding and sense of purpose towards the current obvious economic realities.

"We salute and recognize workers as invaluable and indispensable allies in the service of the people and delivering the dividends of democracy.

"They have sacrificed and given their best. They have shown understanding of the situation we are, even as we try to mitigate the consequences of the shortfall in revenue occasioned by a drop in the price of crude oil.

"I want to assure them that good times are here and we shall all enjoy the fruits of our labour.

"As we celebrate June 12 as Democracy Day, let us remember the struggles and sacrifices of our heroes and heroines by continuing to be good citizens, by working hard and paying our taxes.

"It is for this reason that we have declared Monday 13th as public holiday, in commemoration of this watershed date and to honour the memory, of Chief Abiola, his wife, Kudirat Abiola, who was cowardly murdered by agents of the evil regime and other Nigerians who suffered for standing for what they believe to be right", Aregbesola stated