In a bid to commemorate the annulment of the
June 12,1993 elections, the Lagos State
Government has declared Friday, June 12 as a
work-free day.
The Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode in a
statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to
the Governor, Mr Habib Aruna, on Thursday,
stated that the date marked a turning point that
shaped the eventual emergence of transparent,
free and fair elections in the country.
According to Ambode, June 12, 1993 was the day
Nigerians voted in one voice without ethnic, racial
and religious bias, saying it represented the real
democracy day when Nigerians said no to voting
along ethnic lines.
The Governor however stated that it was
saddening that the nation was still grappling with
some of the vices which the June 12, 1993
elections sought to confine to the dustbin of
history through undue clinging to ethnic
cleavages by some political gladiators.
He urged Lagos residents to spend the day in
sober reflection and in remembrance of the
martyrs of the June 12 elections struggle for
laying the foundation of the democracy which the
nation is now enjoying.
In the same vein, the states of Oyo, Osun and
Ogun, have declared June 12 a work free day.
In a statement in Ibadan, Festus Adedayo, the
Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor on Media,
said the state’s decision to mark the 20th
anniversary of the infamous polls was in a bid to
recognise the martyrdom of the late Moshood
Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the election.
It said Mr. Abiola ought to be honoured for laying
down his life for Nigerians to enjoy democratic
governance.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Information in
Osun, Sunday Akere, said in a statement in
Osogbo that the holiday was to recognise when
an election adjudged the freest and fairest in
Nigeria was annulled.
Mr. Akere said that June 12 would continue to
stand for democracy and good government and
as such nothing was too much to honour the
day.
Ogun State had on Sunday also declared June 12
a public holiday.
lalasticlala, Ishilove
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