*Afenifere group wants results of June 12 election published

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo

Lagos—Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, former military Administrator of the state, Rear-Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (retd), and Convener of the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms, CODER, Ayo Opadokun, yesterday, unanimously, stressed the need for the restructuring of Nigeria and practice of true federalism.

They canvassed this position at the a public forum held in Lagos to mark 23rd anniversary of the June 12th, 1993 election believed to have been won by late business mogul, Chief Moshood Kasimawo Olawale, MKO, Abiola which was annulled by the military.

The event was organised by Office of Civic Engagement, themed; ‘Democracy and Inclusiveness: Basis for good governance,’ which had in attendance; Sen. Biyi Durojaiye, Mr. Jamiu Abiola, Abdul-Azeez Abiola, sons of Chief M.K.O Abiola and wife of the late philanthropist, Mrs. Olayinka Abiola, and others.

They lamented that the federalism currently practised in the country was far from the true federalism that could help address the nation’s challenges.

In his address, Ambode, represented by Secretary to State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, affirmed that the June 12 anniversary is a day the country must continue to remember because it is currently enjoying democratic rule.

Meantime, Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG, has called on the Federal Government to release the official results of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which was presumed to have been won by late Chief M.K.O. Abiola.

In a press statement signed by its chairman, Mr Olawale Oshun, to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of June 12, ARG said President Muhammadu Buhari, as the beneficiary of a ballot revolution that mostly mirrored that of 1993, owes Nigerians the duty of declassifying the results, particularly now that 23 years have elapsed and the Official Secret Act can no longer be binding on the document.

It’s the 23rd anniversary of June 12 election. ARG, according to the statement, believes this will “reverse the stigma occasioned by the foolish act of cancelling that election, adjudged to be the most peaceful in the history of Nigeria.

“June 12 is no longer a struggle but now an obligation. The people have played their own part. It is now the obligation of the beneficiaries of that struggle to set the country on a truly democratic path by deliberately replacing every stamp of military rule on Nigeria’s nationhood, including the imposed governance structure and constitution, through democratic rights and tenets. There is no alternative way to deepen democracy in Nigeria,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has described the June 12, 1993 presidential election as the fountain from which the present democratic dispensation derived its source.

Obasa gave this assessment in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Rasak, on the 23rd celebration of the election.

According to Obasa, perhaps without June 12 election and the struggle to actualise it, the country might still be under military dictatorship.