…June 12 Declared Public Holiday In Oyo, Osun, Ogun & Lagos …Nobel Laurent, Professor Wole Soyinka, has affirmed that June 12 and not May 29 should be marked as Nigeria’s democracy day.
Speaking at a forum in Lagos over the weekend, Prof Soyinka described the May 29 celebration by federal government as ‘fake’, saying that “June 12 is the real democracy day.”
He also made jest of his ‘grounded plane and helicopter’ ahead of a planned flight to celebrate June 12 abroad.
Nigeria has celebrated the return of civil rule on 29th of May, since 1999 when the newly elected President Olusegun Obasanjo, was sworn in after over 30 years of military rule. The day was tagged, Democracy Day.
June 12 is the date renowned for Nigeria’s most credible, free and fair election in 1993 when late MKO Abiola was elected President.
ALSO,
The Oyo and Osun state governments on Monday declared Wednesday as work free to commemorate the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, cancelled by the military government of the time.
In a statement in Ibadan, Festus Adedayo, the Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor on Media, said the holiday was to mark the 20th anniversary of the election, adjudged the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s political history.
The statement said the holiday was also a recognition of the martyrdom of the late Moshood Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the election.
It said Mr. Abiola ought to be honoured for laying down his life for Nigerians to enjoy democratic governance.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Information in Osun, Sunday Akere, said in a statement in Osogbo that the holiday was to recognise when an election adjudged the freest and fairest in Nigeria was annulled.
Mr. Akere said that June 12 would continue to stand for democracy and good government and as such nothing was too much to honour the day.
Ogun State had on Sunday also declared June 12 a public holiday.
Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, on Monday approved that Wednesday, June 12, 2013, be observed as a work free day in the state in commemoration of June 12, 1993 annulled elections.
This was contained in a circular issued yesterday by the Head of Service, Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe.
According to the circular, “In commemoration of June 12, 1993 as significant in the actualisation of democracy in Nigeria, it is hereby notified for general information that His Excellency, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, the Governor of Lagos State has approved Wednesday, June 12, 2013 as a work free day.’”
The circular further enjoined all workers in the state to attend events organised by various government agencies and groups to commemorate the day.
GUYS, What does June 12 mean to you?
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