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MKO will not be happy in grave that democracy he died for has become autocracy- Aare Onakakanfo

The Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, says Nigeria is at war with itself because “a section” of the country consistently betrays the all citizens.

He stated this on Saturday at the annual June 12 commemoration anniversary, organised by the Oodua Peoples Congress, at the Excellence Hotel in the Ikeja area of Lagos State.

He also said the late MKO Abiola “will never be happy in his grave that the democracy he lived and died for has turn out to be autocratic in nature and practice”, according to a statement by his media aide, Kehinde Aderemi.

The statement was titled, ‘June 12:Abiola will not be happy in his grave that this democracy turns autocratic- Gani Adams’.

He also criticised the Federal Government for banning micro-blogging site Twitter saying it is an attempt to gag the press and stifle freedom of expression.

Adams said, “This present danger has been threatening the fragile union of our great country. And sadly, Nigeria is sliding towards an anarchical terminal point. Nigeria is at war with itself because a section of the country has always betrayed the trust which is the bond that binds us together as a nation.

“A good example of this is the Federal Government’s ban and suspension of Twitter platform. As far as I am concerned, it is another ploy to tamper with the citizens’ rights to freedom of speech and expression.

“And if the Federal Government succeeded in banning and suspending twitter, it would easily do the same for other social media platforms. Now that the Federal Government has said all social media platforms must be registered to continue operating in the country. We must follow the trend and rise against skewed regulations. We must stop this excessive use of federal might to truncate the ideals of democracy.

“In global democracy, freedom of speech and expression is a major component of an ideal democracy. And Nigeria cannot continue to live in deceit and self-denial.”

“If democracy could not guarantee freedom of speech and expression, so what system of government will guarantee such component of good governance?” he queried.

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June 12: FG Yet To Fulfill Promises, MKO Abiola’s Family Claims

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had moved the country’s democracy day celebration from May 29 to June 12 to honour the late Abiola.

Abiola, who is the spokesperson for the family, declared that since the declaration by Buhari, the family is yet to benefit anything from the Federal Government.

The Secretary, who lamented the death of Abiola, the breadwinner of the family, said the Federal Government has failed to fulfill all the promises made to the family.

He, however, commended the Federal Government for honouring Abiola with the award of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic and the family for declaring June 12 as Nigeria Democracy day.

He said, “We are happy indeed that President Muhammadu Buhari deemed it fit to honour Abiola by giving him the GCFR and made June 12 official Democracy Day. Kudos to that.

“So far so good, we have not benefitted anything from the Federal Government.

“Ogun State Government right from Chief Olusegun Osoba to Governor Gbenga Daniel, to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, and now to Governor Dapo Abiodun, they always honour MKO Abiola every June 12.

“Ogun State Government will always come with all the machinery to mark the day. Our breadwinner has gone. We have not seen promises from the FG yet.

“On June 12, the state government is trying its best. I give kudos to them on June 12. Governor comes here always to pay solitary to the house and empower us to make sure June 12 is celebrated all the time.”

Meanwhile, Governor Dapo Abiodun has called on those calling for the disintegration of Nigeria to shelve the idea and embrace unity in the spirit of June 12.

The Governor, who stated this at an event organised by the State government to mark the celebration of democracy day, said, “MKO Abiola and his mandate should serve as a reminder to all of us that we are stronger together as a Nation.

“He (Abiola) broke all barriers such as religion and ethnicity that are being used in Nigeria today to divide us. He won across the length and breadth of this country, even at the backyard of his main opponents. It was a phenomenon that should remind us that we are greater than our challenges.

“Unless and until we embrace the essence of the MKO persona, internalize belief in self, faith in a united country, and other initiatives that help to engender a sense of shared heritage amongst Nigerian people, we will continue to be a country in search of Nationhood.

“Let us push all the negative and divisive forces and policies on the back-foot and embrace the symbolism of June 12. Let us join hands to make Nigeria work for all Nigerians.

“This will end all quest for self-determination and other sectarian agitations and calm frayed nerves. June 12 represents what will strengthen the country’s unity, indivisibility, and oneness.”

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June 12: Yoruba in Diaspora Protest in US, Say Oduduwa Republic Non-Negotiable

Nigerians in the United States have taken to the streets to join the June 12 Democracy Day protest.

In a video that surfaced online, the protesters were seen carrying a banner that boldly read, ‘Yoruba Nation America’.

Other protestors with placards written, ‘Yoruba Nation Now’, ‘1999 constitution is a fraud’, amongst others marched on the streets of Washington DC for the protest.

“We have come to draw your attention to what is going on in Nigeria…Crime against humanity is going on… Pay attention to Nigeria now before it is too late,” a voice said in the video.

The protest occurred alongside nationwide protests across Nigeria.

Several digital flyers, widely circulated on social media on Friday, had publicised meeting points in Lagos, Gombe, Calabar (Cross River), Yola (Adamawa), Bauchi, Abeokuta (Ogun), Yenagoa (Bayelsa), Port Harcourt (Rivers), Ibadan (Oyo), Ilorin (Kwara), Enugu, Akure (Ondo), Yobe, and Zaria (Kaduna).

One poster by #RevolutionNow read, “Join the June 12 protest. No more poverty, hunger and insecurity in Nigeria… Enough Is Enough! Nothing can stop an idea whose time has come.”

Another poster for a protest in Kaiserslautern, Germany read, “Buhari must go! Let’s come together to say no to government funding terrorism: Boko Haram terrorism and banditry, one litre of petrol equals N165, bad roads, poor hospitals, kidnapping, economic recession, police brutality, disregard for the rule of law, poor health sector, poor education.”

Similar flyers targeted at protesters in New York (US), Kaduna State and the Federal Capital Territory listed the same points but added, “N30,000 minimum wage, N13.5m senators’ salary, Nigeria is over N30tn in debt.”

One poster for a protest tagged ‘Buhari Must Go Party’ was aimed at supporters in London, United Kingdom. Similar ‘Buhari must go’ posters also targeted protesters in Toronto (Canada), Austin (Texas, USA), Calabar, Kebbi, and Lagos.

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Gov. Makinde Didn’t Organize June 12 Protest, Media Aide Replies APC

The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde did not organise the June 12 rally in Ibadan on Saturday contrary to claims by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), the governor’s media aide has said.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, while reacting to the statement credited to the APC said that it was mischievous for the opposition party to attempt to rope the governor into an event that was clearly organised nationwide by pro-democracy groups.

The statement read:

“Contrary to the wild claims by the APC, Governor Seyi Makinde did not organise the June 12 protests in Ibadan. He only ran into the protesters at Osuntokun Junction in Bodija and addressed them.

“As the Chief Security Officer of the state, it behoves the governor to calm down the protesters and ensure they only protest peacefully. And that was what he did.

“What the APC need to do is to advise its members to stop the perennial display of sadism by celebrating every unwarranted incident in the state.

“It is on record that APC elements, rather than join the push to ensure the sanctity of lives and property in the state, has been busy fuelling embers of discord in their bid to gain political benefit from perceived fallout of the crisis they are surreptitiously engineering.

“The APC should forthwith desist from wishing evil for the state. In a short while the veil will be lifted off those who are fanning the embers of discord.”

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Ex-Reps Member, Dapo Lam Hosts Social Media Influencers/Bloggers, Advises on Better Content Creation

Some selected Ibadan-based social media influencers who are prominent on Twitter and Instagram yesterday Friday 11th June 2021 had LUNCH WITH OMO OLOORE” at the Ibadan residence of the former lawmaker.

At the interactive session, issues bothering on content creation, collaboration, individual challenges, and obstacles hindering the progress of the sector were discussed.

Honourable Dapo Lam Adesina in his opening remarks appreciated the influencers for honouring his invitation and went further to charge them to raise the bar of content creation and media influencing in the state.

According to him “We have lots of talented Influencers in Oyo State, but one cannot fathom the reason behind the slow development of the sector in the state”.

He went further to advise those present at the lunch to do more of collaborating instead of doing things in isolation.

Different speakers at the interactive session/lunch while sharing some of their experiences also appreciated the uncommon gesture of the former lawmaker while majority agreed that working together is very key if progress must be made.

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Ooni Declares UNN Convocation Open, Charges Graduands To Add Values To Society

Arole Oodua and Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II has charged the graduating students of the University of Nigeria(UNN) Nsuka to go into the world as good ambassadors and add great values to the society by proudly making use of the knowledge impacted on them by the university.

The African foremost monarch who doubles as Chancellor of the prestigious university made this admonition in his opening speech on Saturday while he was declaring The 49th Convocation Ceremony of The University of Nigeria Nsuka open.

“We have come to confer the degrees of this institution on you and I challenge you all to be good ambassadors in any endeavor you may be in the world.

You always rise and contribute to the development of our society and humanity in general as we now live in the era of knowledge-based economies and our country is looking up to our graduates like you to enable us compete favourably in the global stage.” Ooni said.

The Co-chairman, National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria(NCTRN) who is also the natural father of the entire Oduduwa Race worldwide congratuled the Honorary Degrees Awardees and Professors Emeritus for various awards and recognitions conferred on them by the university.

Represented by Minister of State for Education, Chief Emeka Nwajiuba, the visitor to the university, President Muhammadu Buhari asked the University to do more to address the needs and challenges of the country for the desired attainment of National development goals. He expressed confidence in the ability of the Nigerian universities to find a lasting solution to problems being faced by the country.

“I also challenge our universities to continue to emphasize trainings in entrepreneurship so that these graduates are able to become job creators, instead of perennial job seekers, as I have no doubt that the Nigerian universities are very much able to find a lasting solution to problems faced by the country.” President Buhari said.

Earlier in his welcome address, the University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Charles Igwe stated that the event was for the higher degrees and postgraduate diplomas climaxing the 49th school’s convocation ceremony which had earlier witnessed award of Bachelors ‘degrees and Diplomas.

He put the total number of the graduands for the Bachelors Degrees and Diplomas at Eleven Thousand and Ten(11,010) while Doctorate degrees, Masters degrees and Post-graduate Diplomas were announced to be Three Thousand, Four Hundred and Nine Seven(3,497).

Professor Jacob Olupona, a professor of African American studies at Harvard University, USA, Alhaji (Dr) Mohammed Indimi, Chairman/CEO of Oriental Energy and Mrs Nnenna MaryAnn Obiejesi the Group Executive Director of ObiJackson Group of Companies and Nest Oil were among the awardees for various categories of Honorary Doctorate Degrees at the 49th Convocation Ceremony of the University of Nigeria(UNN) Nsuka decorated the Chancellor, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife.

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OPINION: Annulment of June 12 Poll, A Moment Of Sober Reflection ~ By Aderibigbe Busari

I feel so sad anytime i remember that Nigeria as a nation has once had a freest, fairest and credible election. There is nothing as disheartening as having a credible election and the credible election was shortlived by a unilateral decision.

As another June 12 is commemorated today, issues verging on the nation’s renascent democracy have ressurected again.

The electoral victory of June 12, 1993 General Election did not see the light of the day as the then Military Head of State , General Ibrahim Babangida who superitended over the exercise, cancelled and annulled the poll despite the wide acceptability of the result by both local and international observers.

June 12 election was the manure that accounted for the country’s democratic progress. Our democratic leaders, from Obasanjo to Yaradua, to Jonathan and to the incumbent resident are indirect beneficiaries of the supreme price paid by Moshood Abiola.

The democracy the nation savours today cannot be divorced from the event of 1993, particularly the supreme sacrifice made by Moshood Abiola.

The ultimate sacrifice made by chief M.k.O Abiola nourished the seed that freed Nigeria from the yoke of the military and died for democracy to survive but wat he did not bargain for is the criminality and other social vices currently pervading our system.

Chief M. K. O Abiola is the symbol of the freest, fairest and transparent election in the annals of our history, an election where no blood was shed, where a Muslim-Muslim ticket won, an election that was devoid of tribalism, religious chauvinism, ethnicism, regionalism and favouritism.

Subsequent elections in Nigeria could have maintained this laudable quality if the election was not subverted by anti-democratic forces.

Conclusively, June 12 remains a day of sober reflection in Nigeria because it was a day the sovereignty of majority of Nigerians were traduced.

June 12 remains an indelible stain in our polity.

I can’t end this piece without asking this pertinent question:

WHAT HAS NIGERIA LEARNT AS A NATION FROM THE DEBACLE OF JUNE 12 1993 GENERAL ELECTION?

I shall continue to ask this fundamental question until we get it right as a democratic nation.

Aderibigbe Yisahu Ajibola Busari is a Public Affairs analyst.

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JUST IN: Protesters Chant ‘Buhari Must Go’ As Demonstration kicks off in Ibadan Amid Security Presence

The June 12 protesters have kicked off protest in Ibadan.

It was learnt that the protest which kicked off in Mokola Roundabout, Ibadan had many youths carrying placards with various inscriptions.

According to one of ODUDUWA NEWS correspondents who is currently monitoring the protest reported that the protest has been peaceful and that many security operatives were stationed across major areas in Ibadan to forestall hijacking of the protest by hoodlums.

It was gathered that places visited across Ibadan were calm and peaceful as few people were seeing carrying out their economic activities while some placed their shops and offices under lock amid palpable fear that the protest might snowball into violence.

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