June 7, 2018

Mr Najeem Salaam, the Speaker of Osun House of Assembly, on Thursday lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for recognising June 12 as Democracy Day.

Salaam said in Osogbo that it was commendable  that the president also accorded late Chief MKO Abiola  the highest honour of  Grand Commander of Federal Republic (GCFR).

He said that the honour given to Abiola, who won the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election adjudged the freest   in the country,  had shown Buhari remains  a democrat.

Besides, he said that the honour given to late Chief Gani Fawehinmi as the  Grand Commander of the  Niger (GCON) was well deserved.

He commended the president for recognising Fawehinmi’s sterling quality as a human rights defender  and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

Salaam said the president had shown courage and leadership in reversing the trend of injustice that had lingered for 25 years.

” It takes courage and responsible leadership to reverse injustice, not like those who directly benefitted from the struggle of June 12, which took the lives of MKO Abiola, his wife, Kudirat and tens of others, but failed to redress the injustice represented by the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election acclaimed to be free, fair and credible.”

“Recognising the duo of Abiola and Fawehinmi with highest honour is good news coming from the right quarters.

“It is marvellous  because the two heroes made the democracy we are enjoying possible today.

“To ignore Abiola and Fawehinmi was an injustice to them and everyone who fought for civil rule, but these honours have come at the right time and justice has been served,” he said.