Following the conferment of the GCFR title on MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of 1993 Presidential election, kinsmen of the late politician are now seeking elongation of the tenure of President Buhari by 14 days, so that future presidential inaugurations will coincide with the June 12th inauguration day.
The tenure elongation plea was made by the traditional ruler of Gbagura in Ogun State, Halidu Laloko, at a press conference yesterday June 11th.
“We see this as victory of truth over injustice, and as people of Gbagura and Ogun State at large, we are extremely glad that Mr President has finally done what is just and fair with the posthumous award of GCFR on late Abiola and the declaration of June 12 as proper Democracy Day and a Public Holiday in Nigeria. We equally applaud the National Assembly led by the Senate for directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to formally declare Chief MKO Abiola winner and as an Ex-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with all his entitlements fully paid.
We also passionately request the National Assembly to take a second look at the President Muhammadu Buhari’s proposal on June 12 and demand that, for proper actualisation and immortalisation of the date and Abiola, there is need to support Mr President on the need to replace the hitherto Public Holiday of May 29 and celebration as well as Handover Day with June 12 since the date marks a watershed in the Nigerian political history” the monarch said
Bode Mustapha, a high chief of the community also asked President Buhari to send an executive bill to the National Assembly for constitutional backing of an amendment to the President’s Handover Day and Democracy Celebration that he announced last week.
”Because of the separation of powers between the Executive and the Legislature, we appeal to the President to forward an Executive Bill to the National Assembly, taking into cognizance of the circumstances that led to the annulment of the June 12 election and the importance of that day and date as the watershed of the democracy of this nation. He should send the Bill to the National Assembly changing the Democracy Day. Once it has been sent to the National Assembly and it becomes law, it extends the tenure of the present government and the National Assembly only by a couple of days. And there will be no disparity again in the Democracy Day and Handover Date.” he said
