Newspaper review: MKO Abiola’s kinsmen demand handover date shifted to June 12

macfranc007 June 12, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 Oluwatobi Bolashodun

The newspaper review for Tuesday, June 12, leads with the people of Gbagura area in Abeokuta, Ogun state, where MKO Abiola hails from, demanding June 12 become the future date for inauguration of new governments.among other stories.

Vanguard reports that As accolades over restoration of Abiola’s political credentials trend in national political discourse, his business empire, a key victim of his political crises, seems to be all but dead, going by Vanguard’s findings. Also affected were the business interests of many pro-June 12 agitators, most of whose businesses suffocated as they fled into exile.

With investments cutting across key sectors of the nation’s economy, including but not limited to banking, telecommunication, education, aviation, oil and gas, he was reckoned as a successful businessman, almost all the businesses were thriving.

Vanguard newspaper for Tuesday, June 12 photo credit: snapshot from NAIJ.com.

However, twenty five years after his death, almost all his businesses have collapsed.

The business empire also led to inside information that the Federal Government may be moving in the direction of restoring strength to some of the businesses.

The Punch reports that the Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, has announced that he will not be able to attend the posthumous investiture of the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, as the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic scheduled for Tuesday (today).

The Punch newspaper for Tuesday, June 12 photo credit: snapshot from NAIJ.com.

The Federal Government had invited Nwosu and key stakeholders in the struggle for the revalidation of the election to the event during which the late human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, will also be honoured posthumously with the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger alongside Abiola’s running mate, Babagana Kingibe.

But Nwosu regretted that he would not be able to attend the event because he was outside the country.

He however commended President Muhammadu Buhari for recognising June 12 as the country’s Democracy Day and for honouring Abiola.

The Nation reports that the popular belief that business giant Chief Moshood Abiola won the June 12, 1993 election was further reinforced yesterday.

In the view of the man who conducted the historic presidential election, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, the recognition of the date as Democracy Day and the honour for “the winner will rekindle the national consciousness of all Nigerians for a better nation”.

The Nation newspaper for Tuesday, June 12 photo credit: snapshot from NAIJ.com.

Nwosu, who commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his action, expressed his opinion in a letter to the Federal Government in response to his invitation to attend today’s ceremony where the late Abiola, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) and Amb. Babagana Kingibe will be decorated with national honours.

Nwosu chaired the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC),which conducted the election – Nigeria’s freest and fairest ever. It was annulled by the military regime of Gen. Babangida for no credible reason.

The Guardian reports that the people of the Gbagura area in Abeokuta, Ogun state, where Abiola hails from, have demanded June 12 become the future date for inauguration of new governments.

The town’s traditional ruler, the Agura of Gbagura, Oba Halidu Olaoko, the Sobekun II, made the request during a press conference in his palace yesterday.

The Guardian newspaper for Tuesday, June 12 photo credit: snapshot from NAIJ.com.

“We see this (honouring of Abiola) as victory of truth over injustice. And as the people of Gbagura and Ogun State, we are extremely glad that Mr. President has finally done what is just and fair with the posthumous award of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on the late Abiola and the declaration of June 12 as the proper Democracy Day and a public holiday in Nigeria,” the ruler said through Chief Adio Baiyewun.

“We passionately request the National Assembly to take a second look at President Muhammadu Buhari’s proposal on June 12 and demand proper actualisation and immortalisation of the date and Abiola.

This Day reports that Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday reviewed the activities of the Senate under his leadership in the last three years and expressed happiness that it was able to unravel high level corruption in government.

He also said the eighth Senate passed 213 bills and cleared 138 petitions brought before it by the public since its inauguration on June 9, 2015.

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This Day newspaper for Tuesday, June 12 photo credit: snapshot from NAIJ.com.

In a statement issued yesterday from Saudi Arabia where he is on lesser hajj, Saraki emphasised that “we exposed high level corruption in the management of the North-east relief efforts and passed the North East Commission Bill which has now been signed into law.”

According to him, “In three short but eventful years, we have worked assiduously and diligently to meet the demands of Nigerians and a changing economy that experienced a recession just a year after we assumed office.

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