Democracy Day: Anambra govt extols Abiola, demands national holiday for ‘Great Zik of Africa’

ANAMBRA State Government has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration of June 12 as ‘Democracy Day’ in remembrance of June 12, 1993 presidential poll won by late Chief MKO Abiola but annulled by the military junta of Gen Ibrahim Babangida as a step in the right direction.

In a message to mark the second anniversary of Democracy-Day on Friday, the Commissioner for Information & Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba while wishing all Nigerians a most rewarding second anniversary of Democracy Day, stressed that the occasion of Democracy Day should be judiciously utilized to redress other anomalies and prejudices in the country.

Adinuba pointed out that one of the solemn omissions is failure to declare a national holiday in honour of late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe fondly called ‘Zik of Africa’ who led Nigeria to independence and contributed immensely in the unity of the country throughout his lifetime.

”It is a supreme irony that the Ghanaians have a national holiday in honour of Kwame Nkrumah, just as the Tanzanians have in honour of Julius Nyerere and Kenyans in honour of Jomo Kenyatta, Nigerians have yet to give such an honour to the man who led them to independence. History beckons President Muhammadu Buhari to do the right thing, and so move Nigeria closer to national integration and cohesion.

“The second anniversary of the declaration of June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day should also be an opportunity for national introspection which should enable us to identify key national gaps and take concrete steps to correct them. One of the gaps is the failure to have a national holiday in honour of Dr. Azikiwe, the man who led Nigeria to independence on October 1, 1960”, he said.

The Commissioner explained that Chief Abiola during his lifetime was a nationalist who touched lives within and outside his ethnic group and religion, and a progressive to the core like Zik which made the state to identify with him massively during his elections.

“Anambra State had no difficulty identifying with Chief Abiola because our state has always been very progressive. What is more, Chief Abiola was all his life a proud Zikist, that is, a disciple of the Great Zik of Africa.

“He followed Dr. Nnamdi Azkiwe to become not just a pan Nigerian but also a Pan Africanist. In other words, he was never a prisoner of parochialism or primordial considerations. Though a proud Yoruba Muslim, Chief Abiola gave generously to all faiths and employed Nigerians, including those from Anambra State, without regard to their ethnicity or religion. He was a Zikist through and through.

“It is not surprising that he was a given a resounding national mandate on June 12, 1993. We thank President Muhammadu Buhari for not just declaring a national holiday in memory of this great man but also naming the National Stadium in Abuja for him. Chief Abiola was a sportsman through and through, that is, literally and metaphorically.

“The Great Zik of Africa inspired generations of African nationalists and freedom fighters, including Chief Abiola. Chief Obafemi Awolowo, referred to as a sage by his followers, wrote in 1980 that he was inspired into great public life after watching the Great Zik speak at a meeting in Yaba, Lagos. He even decided to study law as an adult in London in order to be knowledgeable and eloquent as Zik. No wonder, he established his Nigerian Tribune newspaper on November 16, 1949, in honour of the Great Zik who was born on November 16, 1904.

“Needless to add, Zik also inspired pan Africanists like Kwame Nkrumah who was to lead Ghana to independence on March 6, 1957. He discovered Nkrumah’s promise while serving as the editor in chief of African Morning Post in Accra, Ghana. He advised Nkrumah to study at his alma mater, Lincoln University, the first historically black university in the United States”, the Commissioner stated.

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Hon. CARL UMEGBORO is a legal practitioner (Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and human rights activist. As an advocate of conflict resolution through ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution), he has acquired intensive training and has been inducted into The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (United Kingdom) as an Associate. He is a prolific writer and public affairs analyst. Prior to his call to Bar as a lawyer, he has been a veteran journalist and columnist in all national newspapers, and has over 250 published articles in various newspapers to his credit. Barrister Umegboro is also a regular guest-analyst to many TV and radio programme on crucial national issues. He can be reached through: (+234) 08023184542, (+234) 08173184542 OR Email: umegborocarl@gmail.com

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