Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, yesterday said that Bashorun MKO Abiola watered the seeds of the democracy Nigerians were enjoying today.
Akpabio spoke through his Commissioner for Information and Communication, Aniekan Umanah, at the 20th anniversary of June 12, organised by June 12 Coalition at Abiola's residence in Ikeja, Lagos,
Delivering a keynote address entitled; "Strategy out of Nigeria's growing instability: Marking the 20th Anniversary of the June 12 Movement," Akpabio said the ashes of June 12 fertilised Nigeria's democracy.
He said: "June 12 symbolised unity, patriotism, truth, fairness, justice, equality, brotherhood, equal opportunities for all and other sundry ideals that promote the well-being of a nation.
"If the leaders of our nation can co-opt these values into leadership concept, then the country would be on its ways to total stability. But the annulment of June 12 forced our nation into a long reversal and set an untenable precedent about elections in the country.
"The ashes of June 12 fertilised our democracy which finally came in 1999. And since its return, we have had 14 uninterrupted years of its practice with enormous attendant benefits available for all to see.
"It is therefore safe to say that Abiola watered the seeds of the democracy we are enjoying today."
Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, who presided over the event, said Abiola should be immortalised for sacrificing himself for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria.
The Speaker of Lagos State of Assembly, Rt. Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji, in his address, described Abiola as the symbol of hope.
The National Coordinator of the Ijaw Monitoring Group, Comrade Joseph Evah, said considering the role Abiola played in the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria, the National Assembly Complex or the Eagle Square should be named after him.
He said the immortalisation of Abiola should not be a tribal issue and therefore a federal monument outside the South-West should be named after him.
Other speakers at the event, such as a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abike Dabiri- Erewa; spokesman of Pro-National Conference, PRONACO, Comrade Wale Okunniyi; Secretary of Patriots, Chief Solomon Asemota; President for Women and Youths for Abiola, Alhaja Aminat Irawo, also commended Abiola's contribution to Nigeria's democracy.
Meanwhile, there was a mild drama at the tomb of Abiola when former presidential candidate for the Liberal Democratic Party of Nigeria, Dr. Chris Nwokobia, said Akpabio was not qualified to deliver a keynote address in commemoration of June 12.
Nwakobia said inviting personalities such as Governor Akpabio to deliver a keynote speech at June 12 remembrance ceremony was nothing but a dishonour to the memory of Abiola.
National Mirror
I kinda agree with that cos it makes a lot of sense. That is the basic truth. Abiola did all sort of things to help Nigeria.