The daughter of late Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, MKO who won the freest and fairest presidential election on June 12, 1993, Hafsat Abiola-Costello, has reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration of June 12 as Nigeria’s new Democracy Day.
In an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, she said the honour was long overdue as it should have come since 1999 – a year after her father was murdered.
She, however, said she was excited and indeed grateful for the development adding that it is recognition of the freedom and democracy for which he (Abiola) and the citizens had fought hard for.
“I cannot believe it, I’m still praying that somebody won’t wake me up and say I was sleeping or something.
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“I just cannot believe it, it’s so long overdue. (25 years), it should have been done in 1999. June 12 should have been declared the day of transition in 1999 and it was not and that was already a sign that Nigerians were going to be cheated.
“We had fought, fought soldiers and the army who wanted to oppress and dictate to us and when it was now time for us to begin this new democratic transition, it was as if they pulled out someone that would continue to protect their interest and not recognize and validate the interests and needs and rights of the people of Nigeria.
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“Furthermore, Mr. Abiola-Costello, “We saw with June 12 that even before an Army, journalists came out, wrote articles, people were on the streets, labour unions went on strike, market women went on strike and shut down a powerful military dictatorshipâ€.
www.sojworld.com © June 7, 2018
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