By Laleye Dipo in Minna
As Nigeria marks June 12 as Democracy Day for the first time on Tuesday, the Campaign for Democracy (CD) has said that the declaration of the day as democracy day by President Muhammed Buhari “has rekindled the Hope 1993 spirit”.
The CD also said the declaration was “victory for all Nigerians and not just for those who voted for MKO Abiola”.
In a statement to mark June 12 as Democracy Day in Minna on Tuesday, the state chapter of the organisation said: “The courage and determination of Mr President to recognise Chief MKO Abiola’s electoral victory is one final attempt at resolving the injuries caused by the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election.”
The statement jointly signed by Alhaji Abdullahi Jabi, state Chairman and Abdulwahid Adeniran, Secretary, said the president’s action “must be acknowledged by right thinking Nigerians in the spirit of healings of wounds, confidence building in the people, and reducing the socio-economic and political tension in the country.
“Campaign for Democracy identifies with these people oriented policy in recognition of hero’s of democracy in Nigeria,” it said.
The CD said it also identified with “those in the struggle who lost loved ones, family members, some imprisoned, Â detained, and tortured including those driven into exile by the military regime”.
The statement added that while the action had been “highly commendable” it “irritates the likes of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo former president who failed to accomplish in his eight years tenure of maladministration and PDP impunity”.
While pledging its support for the administration of President Buhari, CD however suggested that the government should take a critical look at the high cost of food items in the market as well as the high price of housing, including transportation and health care.
