AKINWUMI Ambode, Governor of Lagos State has unveiled a statue in honour of the late Moshood Abiola, acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election that was annulled by Ibrahim Babangida, former military Head of State.
The statue, located at the MKO Abiola Garden, Alapere, Lagos, was unveiled on Tuesday in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the June 12 election.
The event also coincided with the conferment of a posthumous national honour of Grand Cammander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Abiola, by President Muhammadu Buhari, which took place at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Also honoured were the late activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Gani Fanwehimi, who was conferred a posthumous honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON); and Babagana Kingibe, Abiola’s running mate in the June 12 election, who also received a GCON award.
Speaking at the event, Ambode said: “For us in Lagos State, June 12 is not just a day to remember, it is a rallying point for those of us in service, that we must continuously strive to entrench true democracy and good governance which is what Chief M.K.O Abiola totally exemplified.”
The Abiola family was represented at the event by Abdulmuminu Abiola, one of the sons of the late business mogul-turned politician.
Tuesday was declared as a public holiday in all the six states in South West Nigeria to mark the June 12 celebration.
President Buhari had also announced that in subsequent years, the Democracy Day celebration in Nigeria will hold on June 12 and no longer May 29 as is currently the case. The day will also be marked as a national public holiday with effect from 2019.
Watch the unveiling ceremony below, as was shared on twitter by the Lagos State government:
The new Chief MKO Abiola Statue has been unveiled #June12 #MKOAbiola #HeroOfDemocracy #ItesiwajuIpinleEko #LASG h pic.twitter.com/kQoT9yYLpb
— The Lagos State Govt (@followlasg) June 12, 2018