The Federal Government has been asked by the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, to honour posthumously the wife Chief Moshood Abiola, Kudirat, who was assassinated while campaigning for the restoration of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, won by Abiola.
It made the call in a statement on Friday in Abuja through its National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abudullahi, while commending government for honouring Abiola posthumously the nation\’s highest honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR.
Abiola believably won the election, which he contested on the platform of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, and regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest so far. but was annulled by the military junta of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.
APC said it believed that Kudirat, who was assassinated in Lagos on June 4, 1996, and paid the supreme price with her life in the June 12 struggle, deserves also to be honoured.in her own right as a heroine and martyr of democracy in Nigeria.
It recalled how she mobilised market women, students, activists and other human rights community against the then military rule and the struggle for a truly democratic nation.
While commending government for the decision to also honour Abiola’s running mate, Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, and late human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, with honour of Grand Commander of the Niger, GCON,
the party noted that in taking the decision, the President had again displayed a sincerity of purpose and his known penchant for doing the right thing irrespective of political and sundry considerations.
It stressed its resolution in the struggle to deepen the country´s democracy and to continue to improve on the transparency and credibility of the electoral system; reiterating that regardless of its imperfections, democracy remains the best form of government that could best serve the interest of the people.
It said that government\’s declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day and posthumously honouring Abiola and two others exemplified the party´s commitment to the sanctity of popular elections; and added that the decision also showed the party’s commitment to the respect for the right of the people to freely choose their leaders in accordance with fundamental principle of democracy.
