June 12, mother of democracy – Lagos Speaker

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has described the June 12, 1993 Presidential election as the mother of the present democratic dispensation in Nigeria.

Obasa noted that without the June 12 Presidential election, enjoying full fledged democracy in Nigeria might have been difficult.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Rasak, Obasa said that it became imperative for Nigerians to not only celebrate the historic event but also reflect on its significance.

According to him, “It was a major political event in Nigeria history and it deserves to be celebrated.

“It was the harbinger of the present day democracy. It was the fairest, freest and most accepted election ever not only in Nigeria but also in the entire continent of Africa, June 12 is thus the mother of our present democracy,” he said.

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He further stated that without June 12, perhaps the military would have perpetuate itself in power.

“The collective way Nigerians spoke during the June 12 election and the subsequent struggles to defend the sacred mandate, were enough signals for the military and indeed other anti-democratic individuals and groups that Nigerians are willing to embrace democracy and do away with military rule in all its entirety,” Obasa said.

He said, Lagos and other states which celebrate June 12 as their Democracy Day deserve commendation rather than vilification. “It is June 12 which gave birth to May 29 which is being celebrated as Democracy Day nationally, thus, for us in Lagos State and other states marking the June 12 anniversary, it is the day Nigerians got their independence from the jaws of military dictatorship, it is our Democracy Day,” he said.

Obasa then eulogised politicians and personalities who have passed on but were part of the struggle to validate the June 12 election, particularly the winner of the historic election, the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola; his wife, Alhaja Kudirat; Beko Ransome Kuti; Pa Alfred Rewane; Tai Solarin; Pa Micheal Adekunle Ajasin, former Governor of Ondo, Pa Abraham Adesanya; Chief Bola Ige among others who were killed by military bullets during various protests and struggles to validate the historic election.

“They are the heroes of the democracy we are enjoying today and they deserve full national recognition,” he said.