Prof. Faduyile hails heroes of Democracy
By Steve Ovirih.
All Progressives Congress stakeholder and Candidate for the 20th June Ondo South Senatorial by-election, Prof.Dayo Faduyile,OON, has congratulated Nigerians on the occasion of the celebration of the 2026 Democracy Day. Faduyile noted that Democracy Day Celebration in Nigeria calls for sober reflection over the heroes of the struggle who committed sweat, structure, investment and ultimately those who paid with their blood for Democracy to thrive in Nigeria.
In an official congratulatory statement to Nigerians to mark Democracy Day, Prof. Faduyile said a lot of political activists across Nigeria paid for Democracy to survive, adding that the Democracy we practice and enjoy today deserve that we guide it jealously so that those who govern through the barrel of the gun don’t feel tempted to wonder about autocratic government never again.
He said prior to the June 12, 1993 election, the government in power shifted handing over date to a democratically elected government several times and what that signified was that the allure of autocratic power was so strong and so enthralling that the soldiers of occupation who had wandered into government through coup, decrees and fiat found it difficult to return to the barracks. “When political arrangements were in top gear leading to the fixing of date for the June 12, 1993 election, Nigerians were excited and looked forward to a return to civil rule so it was no surprise that regardless of the Muslim/Muslim ticket of Chief Abiola and Alhaji Kingibe, the people wanted a pan-Nigerian Democracy and were not dissuaded over theAbiola/Kingibe ticket. Moreso, the charismatic personality of Abiola was very endearing to Nigerians that people simply wanted the MKO Abiola Presidency. Thus, truncating the collective expectations of Nigeria over the outcome of the June 12, 1993 poll brought a very sad aftermath culminating in the death of Chief Abiola in detention.
“The essence of this flashback is that Democracy today had his casualties in the June 12 narrative and as we look back to what culminated in the 1999 handover to a civilian government the celebration will not be fit and proper without acknowledging the heroes of Democracy in Nigeria,” Prof. Faduyile noted.
He maintained that Civil Society Organizations, the NADECO Group, the Afenifere Group and several individuals stuck out their neck and dared the Junta for Democracy to blossom.
“We remember today Chief MKO Abiola who died struggling to claim his Presidential mandate over the outstanding success recorded on election day in 1993.Abiola died in the detention he was railroaded into by Late Gen. Sanni Abacha. We remember his darling wife , Alhaja Kudirat Abiola who did not abandon the struggle to claim the mandate of Chief Abiola. We remember specially today, Pa. Anthony Enahoro who was very active in the days of the struggle for the reclaiming of June 12, regardless of his advance age. We recall with solemnity Pa. Alfred Rewane , a great hero of the struggle; we recall heavy weight crusaders for good Governance like Pa. Abraham Adesanya, Pa. Alex Ibru, Late Bekolari Ransom Kuti, Chief Gani Fawehinmi,Gen. Alani Akinrinade, Adm. Ndubusi Kanu, Late Tunde Yusuf, Ayo Obe of Civil Liberties organization, CLO, Chima Ubani, Late Bagauda Kaltho and so many others too numerous to mention.
“We cannot forget the NADECO days of post June 12, 1993 election in which crusaders for good Governance like Bola Ahmed Tinubu, now Nigerian President, Chief Segun Osoba, Pa Bisi Akande, Late Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Dr.Kayode Fayemi, Festus Keyamo, Students union leaders across Nigerian higher institutions,members of the fourth estate of the realm all bonded together against autocracy.
” Therefore, it is very important that we guide our democracy jealously and support the government of President Bola Tinubu who means well for Nigeria and Nigerians,” Faduyile said.
He added that it is a testament to utmost political goodwill that one of the major arrow heads of the struggle for the post June 12 emancipation of Nigeria from the firm hold of military rule , Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu now manages and pilots the affairs of Nigeria as a democratic state, stressing that previous civilian administration before him starting from 1999 did nt deem it fit to accord June 12 the special place it deserves in the annals of the history of political development of Nigeria.
While saluting President Bola Tinubu for the bold step taking to make June 12 a public holiday to celebrate Democracy in Nigeria and put the issue of MKO Abiola’s victory in perspective, Prof. Faduyile added that there could not have been a better closure for the struggles, pains, tears, regrets , protests and blood shed over June 12, 1993 election other than the honor been accorded the day as the genuine Democracy Day in Nigeria.
