Femi Falana welcomed the declaration of June 12 as
Democracy Day
The human rights lawyer asked the government to adopt
Abiola’s welfare programme
- He also said Kudirat Abiola deserves an award as she
died fighting for her husband’s mandate
A human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has commended
President Muhammadu Buhari for granting a post humous
national award of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic
(GCFR) on Chief M. K. O. Abiola.
The Cable reports that Falana also said the declaration of
June 12 as Democracy Day was an end to the hypocrisy of
celebrating it on May 29.
According to him, it “ validated the integrity of the fair and free
election that was criminally annulled by the Ibrahim
Babangida junta”.
He said the Muhammadu Buhari administration has made
history by conferring the post humous national award of
Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Chief
M. K. O. Abiola, who was the acclaimed winner of the June
12, 1993 presidential election for his huge contribution to the
restoration of democratic rule in Nigeria.
“By declaring June 12 Democracy Day the federal government
has officially validated the integrity of the fair and free election
that was criminally annulled by the Ibrahim Babangida junta.
“By recognizing June 12 as Democracy Day the federal
government has put an end to the hypocrisy of May 29 which
was proclaimed by the Olusegun Obasanjo regime. By confering
the post humous award of national award of Grand
Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON) on Chief Gani
Fawehinmi SAN the federal government has officially endorsed
his enormous contributions to the titanic battle against
military dictatorship and promotion of human rights in
Nigeria.
“In addition to the historic gesture the federal government
should proceed to adopt chief Abiola’s programme of welfare to
poverty and respect the human rights of all Nigerians which
Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN championed and defended in his life
time.
“In particular, the federal government should mark the first
national democracy day on June 12, 2018 with the release of
all citizens who are being detained illegally all over the
country and immediate compliance with all valid and
subsisting court orders," Falana said.
He also called on the government to award Kudirat Abiola as
she died fighting for her husband’s mandate.
