President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday announced that Democracy Day will henceforth be celebrated on June 12.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Buhari also honoured MKO Abiola with the highest National Award in the country, GCFR.
Running mate to Abiola in the June, 1993, Babagana Kingibe is also to be honoured with the second highest award in the land, GCON.
The president also posthumously awarded human right activist Gani Fawehinmi a GCON.
He said: “Dear Nigerians, I am delighted to announce that, after due consultations, the Federal Government 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.
“Chief Abiola’s running mate, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, is also to be awarded a GCON.
“Furthermore, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, tireless fighter for human rights & democracy, & for the actualization of the June 12, 1993 elections,will be posthumously awarded a GCON.
“In the view of Nigerians, as shared by this Administration, June 12, 1993 was and is far more symbolic of Democracy in the Nigerian context than May 29, or even October 1.
“June 12, 1993 was the day millions of Nigerians expressed their Democratic will in the freest, fairest & most peaceful elections since our Independence.
“That the outcome of that election was not upheld by the then military Govt does not detract from its democratic credentials.”
