June 12 Would Be A Waste Of Time Unless…- Ikubese
A presidential aspirant under the platform of Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) in the 2019 general elections, Dr. Thomas-Wilson Ikubese, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for recognising June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day and honouring the acclaimed winner of the election, late Chief Moshood Kashimowo Abiola.
He however said beyond the declaration, the President should go further by directing the declaration of the results of the election and proclaiming Abiola as the winner of that election adjudged as the freest and most transparent election ever conducted in Nigeria.
Ikubese spoke with our correspondent in Lagos on the sidelines of the 25th Anniversary of June 12 organized by the June 12 movement which took place in Abiola’s residence along Toyin Street in Lagos yesterday.
The ceremony was organized with the support of the Nigerian Intervention Movement (NIM) with key leaders of the movement including Chief Olisa Agbakoba, Dr. Abduljalil Tafawa-Balewa, Mallam Nasser Kura, as well as leading presidential aspirants and political activists in attendance.
Ikubese however said the declaration and the recognition being given to Abiola would come to naught unless the spirit of equity, justice and fairness which June 12 symbolizes is allowed to thrive in the life of Buhari’s administration.
He said, “I’m delighted that Mr. President has recognized June 12 after 25 years as Nigeria’s Democracy Day.
President Buhari deserves some applause for doing that. But we should go beyond that into recognising the fact that Bashorun MKO Abiola truly won the election. So the result should be declared and then he should be recognized as a President that never was. His entitlements should be paid.
“The other thing that is important for me is that if we recognized June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day and we are giving posthumous award to Bashorun MKO Abiola and the spirit of June 12 is not reflected in the life of this administration, it is a waste of time.
The spirit of equity, the spirit of fairness, the spirit of freeness that was reflected in that election must be reflected in the life of this administration.
“When people are prosecuted, it should not be on political ground, it should be because they have a case to answer. When people are given appointment, it should not be they are from particular part of the world or country. It should be because they deserve it. That spirit of equity must be reflected in the life of this administration otherwise all of these honours would have no meaning.”
According to him, declaring the results of June 12, 1993 election would go a long way in placating those who lost lives and properties during the June 12 struggle.
“It will cause a lot of stability, it would smoothen nerves, if anything it would make those who have lost lives and properties as a result of June 12 1993 election to be consoled. Those who are alive and those who are dead would feel a true sense of relief”, he added.
