Read the statement from Lagos state government below…
The Lagos State Government yesterday declared Monday public
holiday to mark June 12 celebration in the State, saying that the State remains committed to the ideals of the annulled 1993 Presidential election.
In a statement signed by the
Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello on behalf of the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, the government said the holiday was
in honour of the ideals which June
12, 1993 Presidential election
represents being a day that the
country experienced an election that was adjudged as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history. The
Governor said 24 years after, the
ideals of June 12 commemoration
were worth celebrating, describing the day as one of the most defining moments of the country’s political history which has positively shaped its democratic rule. Governor Ambode said the time has come for Nigeriansto go beyond the commemoration and entrench a viable democracy as a
way to immortalise the late presumed winner of June 12, 1993 Presidential election, Chief M.K.O Abiola through the practice of true federalism and conduct of credible and fair elections.
He said: “June 12, 1993 is a day we must not forget in the annals of our democratic history. Our present democratic experience may still be far from the ideal but we must all make concerted efforts to entrench fiscal
federalism which is the only way to achieve true nationhood.” Continuing, Governor Ambode said part of the enduring lessons of June 12 election is that it imbued the patriotic and nationalistic zeal in all Nigerians to speak with one voice to make a political choice devoid of ethnic, racial
or social sentiments. “On June 12,
1993, majority of Nigerians across all divides demonstrated through the ballot box that irrespective of class or ethnic sympathies, the Nigerian people are united and would always join hands to promote our unifying values,” he said. Governor Ambode said though the peoples’ hope was
dashed with the annulment of the
elections by the military junta, the
lessons of the elections cannot be
wished away despite subterranean efforts by many to do, describing June 12 as the real Democracy Day in Nigeria. “We owe it a duty to genuinely immortalize the fallen heroes of the June 12 struggle nationally and deepen our democratic
values to ensure that never again will such anti-people action be allowed to take place”. He also assured that his administration remains committed to the ideals of June 12 by carrying out
people-oriented programmes across the State and making life more comfortable for the people.
Meanwhile, the State Government,
through the office of Civic Engagement, has perfected
arrangement for the annual public
symposium which will hold at the De Roof, LTV 8 in Ikeja, to celebrate June 12.
