The children of the late winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola, on Thursday, begged President Bola Tinubu to enact a bill that will officially make June 12 Democracy Day, such that it will become a law and not be subjected to cancellation in the near future.
This is just as the children of the late business mogul have equally demanded that the Ogun State government should help rebuild Abiola’s family house and make it a national monument to preserve the memories of the late politician.
They made these passionate appeals while speaking with journalists during the annual prayer held for the repose of their father at their Oja Agbo family house, Abeokuta.
Ameen Abiola explained that the family is indeed grateful for all the support given by both the federal and the state government in the time past, particularly, the singular honour of confering their late father with the highest national award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic among others.
He however explained that beyond the declaration that the Democracy Day should be celebrated on June 12, Tinubu should enact a bill that will make this a law such that future generations will not be able to erase or move this celebration away from June 12 and it will be celebrated till the end of time.
He stated further that going by what they read sometimes on social media, it shows that the coming generation may not truly understand the invaluable roles late Abiola played in returning the country to democratic government, hence the need to do whatever is necessary to protect and preserve the sacrifice of their father such that cannot be tampered with by any generation.
Ameen said, “We appreciate the Federal Government of Nigeria for the honor done our father, he is not only our father but father of many Nigerians given the supreme sacrifice he had to pay for the democracy that we are all enjoying today.
“We thank former President Muhammad Buhari for confering on our father the award of GCFR, that is a great step in the right direction. However it is our passionate appeal that the Federal Government can permanently enact a bill that will forever make June 12 Democracy Day.
“This will forestall a situation where future generations who may not understand the roles that our father played in returning the country to democratic rule to abolish this June 12 Democracy Day which is picked to celebrate our father, Chief MKO Abiola.
“Some generation currently don’t understand the values, the roles and sacrifice of our father, Chief MKO Abiola. It is our hope that a bill can be signed permanently that Democracy Day will continue to exist till the end of time in Nigeria. Some youth don’t understand the values of our late father going by what we read sometimes on the social media
“The only person that can do this is the President Bola Tinubu because he had been there with our late father right from inception, he understood what our father stood for and so in addition to the support he has given the family, he should please help us with the bill.”
Another son of the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Abdulrahman Abiola, called on the state government to help upgrade the Abiola family house to a national monument that can always stand tall as part of the deliberate steps taken to immortalize their father
He said, “The Ogun State government should turn around the Abiola house to a national monument.
“Given his pedigree and invaluable contributions to the development of the country and what he stood for democratically, we believe that Abiola’s family house at Oja agbo, Gbagura, Abeokuta should be made a national monument.”
Speaking earlier, Abiodun represented by his Deputy, Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele said that the country will always celebrate the democratic ideals fought for by the Abiola.
Abiodun said that his government will continue to stand on the side of the people and be guided by the democratic principles of rule of law, equity and justice while prioritizing good governance above any other consideration.
He described late Abiola as a legend, a worthy son of the state and whose invaluable roles in returning the country to democratic path after many years of tortuous military reign will always occupy a special place of pride in the annals of the nation’s history.
