June 7, 2018

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for recognising June 12 as Democracy Day,  in place of May 29.

Aregbesola in a statement released  by his media aide, Sola Fasure on Thursday in Osogbo commended the president for mustering the courage to take this historic step 25 years after the freest and fairest presidential election ever held in the history of Nigeria.

According to Aregbesola, President Buhari has secured for himself an incomparable position in history for summoning the courage to take the historic step of recognising June 12 as ‘Democracy Day’ and for honouring Chief Moshood Abiola posthumously.

He said , “June 12, 1993 was the day democracy was born in Nigeria.

” It was the day Nigerians negated all the social and political constructs that had been thought would make national unity impossible and democratic governance impossible.

” But Nigerians in their heterogeneity overwhelmingly voted for a candidate whose very essence was in defiance of religious, ethnic and regional categorisation.

“It is most regrettable that the election was annulled and Chief Abiola clamped in illegal detention where he later died.

“Successive administrations had suppressed the significance of June 12 and resisted every admonition to recognise the date and honour Chief Abiola”.

Aregbesola, however, said that since the advent of his administration in 2010, June 12 had been recognised as democracy day in the state in place of May 29.

” We are glad therefore that President Buhari has taken this bold step and set the record straight.

” History will be kind to him for this. I commend him for this uncommon courage and demonstration of leadership”, the governor said.