Buhari’s Revisionism As FG Declares June 12 Public Holiday

The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, June 12, 2019 as a public holiday in commemoration of the nation’s Democracy Day.

It is the first time that June 12 would be recognized as a Public Holiday by any government since the momentous events of the nineties when the election for a new president on June 12, 1993 was annulled by the Ibrahim Babangida military regime.

General Sani Abacha who took over from the interim government appointed by Babangida repeatedly suppressed the manifestation of the mandate and kept the flag bearer of the mandate, Chief Moshood Abiola in detention from 1994 till he, Abacha died mysteriously in June 1998. Abiola died within a month of Abacha’s death.

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari who served in the Abacha government as chairman of the Petroleum Trust (Special) Fund, PTF was not known to have echoed any word in support of the mandate.

Even after he joined politics he was also not known to have echoed a word in support of June 12.

He, however, made a U-Turn three years into his first term. At that time it was generally seen as an election gimmick to win the approval of the critical pro-democracy community especially those based in the Southwest, Abiola’s home region.

Buhari has held on to the proclamation of June 12 as Democracy Day and honoured Abiola dismissing insinuations that it was only an election gimmick to win votes.

However, the declaration of June 12 as a public holiday in addition to the May 29 handover date will, however, raise concern among businesses worried about the impact of several public holidays on industrial growth.

Announcing the declaration of June 12 as a public holiday, the Ministry of Interior in a communique issued by director of press and public relations Mohammed Manga said:

“The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Barr. Georgina Ekeoma Ehuriah, MON who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government congratulated all Nigerians at home and abroad for the entrenchment of democratic rule in the country.

She called on Nigerians to continue to cherish the sacrifice made by heroes of democracy, particularly those who lost their lives in the struggle for the actualization of Democratic Governance in Nigeria in order to make the country a better place for all.

“Barr. Ehuriah further called for the collaboration and cooperation of all Nigerians with the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari towards achieving our collective aspiration for the unity, peace and socio-economic development of Nigeria.

She wished all Nigerians at home and abroad a happy Democracy Day Celebration.”

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