Breaking: Buhari Declares June 12 Democracy Day; Honors MKO with GCFR

President Muhammadu Buhari has announced that henceforth, June 12 will be celebrated as the Democracy day in the nation.

June 12, 1993, was the date Nigerians presumably voted the late Moshood Abiola as the President of the country, in a very free and fair election that was eventually annulled by the then-Head of State Ibrahim Babangida.

President Buhari tweeted:

Dear Nigerians, I am delighted to announce that, after due consultations, the Federal Govt has decided that henceforth, June 12 will be celebrated as Democracy Day. We have also decided to award posthumously the highest Honour in the land, GCFR, to the late Chief MKO Abiola.

View image on Twitter

The president also announced that the late MKO Abiola will be posthumously awarded the country’s highest honor, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR) which is usually reserved for presidents.

It was also announced that his running mate Baba Gana Kingibe will be honored with the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON).

The late Gani Fawehinmi, who fought for the actualization of the election, will also be posthumously honored with the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON).

A commemoration and investiture of the date as the new Democracy Day will take place on Tuesday, June 12, and will then on replace May 29 as the official Democracy Day.