President of Nigeria, Buhari was sworn in for a period of four years on May 29th, 2015
Which date is handover date in Nigeria: May 29 or June 12?
Constitutionally, May 29th is Nigeria’s handover date. If you were sworn-in on May 29th and you have a four-year term, you have to hand over on the 29th May of the fourth year. Anything short of that will be unconstitutional. This implies that Nigeria will celebrate democracy holidays on May 29th and on June 12. On May 29th, you have a change of government. On June 12, you celebrate Democracy Day. This is another issue that Nigerians will contend with.
Is this ‘love’ for Abiola political or genuine?
The name, Abiola, is not strange in the mouth of many political and socio-cultural activists in Nigeria. But there are some politicians who are not known to be associates or lovers of Abiola—Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the acclaimed winner of Nigeria’s 1993 presidential election; Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari is one of the later.
Analysis of the election materials showed that Abiola, won the polls but the then Military government led by General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the election and he was never formally declared winner and so never sworn in the office.
Abiola died on July 7th, 1998 struggling to reclaim his mandate. Abiola’s wife, Kudirat also died in similar circumstances.
On Wednesday, Buhari issued a statement, affirming that Abiola won June 1993 election, and proposing the highest honour in the land, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) always reserved for Presidents, for him.
“For the past 18 years, Nigerians have been celebrating May 29th, as Democracy Day. That was the date when for the second time in our history, an elected civilian administration took over from a military government. The first time this happened was on October 21st, 1979. But in the view of Nigerians, as shared by this Administration, June 12th, 1993, was far more symbolic of Democracy in the Nigerian context than May 29th or even the October 1st,” a statement by the presidency said Wednesday.
“June 12th, 1993 was the day when Nigerians in millions expressed their democratic will in what was undisputedly the freest, fairest and most peaceful elections since our Independence. The fact that the outcome of that election was not upheld by the then military Government does not distract from the democratic credentials of that process.
“Accordingly, after due consultations, the Federal government has decided that henceforth, June 12th will be celebrated as Democracy Day. Therefore, Government has decided to award posthumously the highest honour of the land, GCFR, to late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12th 1993 cancelled elections. His running mate as Vice President, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, is also to be invested with a GCON. Furthermore, the tireless fighter for human rights and the actualization of the June 12th elections and indeed for Democracy in general, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN is to be awarded the GCON…”
Is this love political or genuine?
Politicians are social engineers. They know how talk to your need to get your vote in exchange. The issue of Abiola’s election and annulment, popularly known as June 12, is now a part of the soul of the Yoruba race. If you want to talk to the Yorubas, you must talk about June 12. At this same junction before the 2015 election, then president Goodluck Jonathan flew similar kite. He proposed to re-name the popular University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University. The aim was to pacify the whole Yoruba race and get their vote in 2015. But that did not fly. University of Lagos rejected the offer and opted to remain as University of Lagos instead of Moshood Abiola University.
Buhari should learn from Jonathan’s mistakes and offer a bigger bait to get the attention of the Youruba race. Declaration of June 12 as Democracy and recognising Abiola as a president Nigeria never had is surely a big bait. To a large extent, this is political propaganda.
How sustainable is this propaganda?
Constitutionally, May 29th is Nigeria’s handover date. If you were sworn-in on May 29th and you have a four-year term, you have to hand over on the 29th May of the fourth year. Anything short of that will be unconstitutional. This implies that Nigeria will celebrate democracy holidays on May 29th and on June 12. On May 29th, you have a change of government. On June 12, you celebrate Democracy Day.
How is Nigerians taking this?
It is with a mixed feeling.
Mixed reactions trail Buhari’s declaration of June 12 Democracy Day