The Lagos State Chapter of the Accord Party has called on President Bola Tinubu to dispense justice on Democracy Day by declaring the late Chief M.K.O Abiola as president-elect. In a statement released by Dele Oladeji, the State Chairman of the party, the Accord Party emphasized the need to end the long-lasting injustice against Nigerians. They urged Tinubu to declare MKO Abiola the president-elect of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.
The Accord Party stated that June 12 remains a watershed moment in the checkered democratic history of Nigeria and Africa and the declaration of the official result of June 12, the designation of late MKO Abiola as president-elect, and compensation to his family, would bring an end to this long-living injustice. The Chairman of the party reiterated that fulfilling the party’s request would renew hope in Nigeria’s democratic system and build trust in the government of Tinubu.
The party stated that the right time to bring justice to June 12 is now because some active actors in its annulment are still alive. The likes of ex-President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, who annulled the election, Prof. Maurice Iwu, the third INEC Chairman who conducted the election, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Mr Dele Momodu, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and President Bola Tinubu, were major actors and prominent agitators in the June 12 debacle.
The party also looked forward to the official announcement of the result of the June 12, 1993, election and congratulated the President on the eventual victory of the Feb. 25, presidential election. The Accord Party wished the President and Nigerians a successful tenure and a prosperous reign.
NAN recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari, on June 6, 2018, declared June 12 as Nigeria’s democracy day instead of May 29, in honour of the late Chief M.K.O Abiola. Mr Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, died in detention for an alleged treason. The declaration followed many years of agitations by civil society groups that Abiola must be immortalized.
According to Buhari, the change was to remind all Nigerians of one free election after which the presumed winner along with Nigerians were denied their rights and their choices. As the party urges Tinubu to declare MKO Abiola the President-elect on Democracy Day, June 12, Nigerians are looking forward to justice being served and the righting of what many considered to be one of the darkest moments in Nigeria’s political history.
