Nigerian Writers Support PMB On June 12
By Yemi Adebisi- June 23, 2018
LAGOS
– The Association of Nigerian Authors
(ANA), Lagos chapter has said the recent move by the Federal government to
change the Democracy Day to June 12, was in order, thanking President Muhammadu
Buhari for bringing forward and correcting the issues described as great
impediments to national unity and peace.
The
writers also advised the government to unravel the misery behind the death of
national patriots like the former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief
Bola Ige, slain journalist, Dele Giwa and former Lagos State governorship
aspirant under Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Funsho Williams.
“The
honour and recognition of the heroes of June 12 struggle to restore the mandate
given to Chief M. K. O. Abiola in the election which was presumed to be the
freest and fairest in the political history of electioneering in Nigeria are,
to say the least, in the right direction. That, election which was won by the
presidential candidate of the then Social Democratic Party (SDP), Bashorun
Moshood Kashimawo Abiola (MKO) but, which was annulled by the power-drunk
military junta of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) and the dirts of
condemnations which the heinous acts of IBB and late General Sanni Abacha,
along with their cronies, have generated cannot be forgiven, even by the unborn
generations of Nigerians.
“What
further affirms our faith in the government of Buhari is its attempt to revisit
the case of Chie Bola Ige, the federal minister of Justice, among others,
during Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration as President. However, the case
of late Dele Giwa, a renowned journalist and Funsho Williams who were murdered
in cold blood are also cases that were shrouded in mysteries and are needed to
be unravelled. The ability of government to resolve all these past cases that
have caused Nigeria to be considered as unserious nations in the comity of
nations would not only resuscitate the love for the motherland by the citizenry
but, would further achieve respect for Nigeria.”
In
a communiqué signed by Feyi-Abiodun Oyeniyi, chairman, ANA Lagos publicity
sub-committee, the group noted that the resuscitation of the issues of June 12
and efforts to right the wrongs of the era has further rejuvenated the essence
of patriotism among Nigerians and strengthen their faith in the present
government.
The
writers insisted that the announcement of June 12 as the new democracy day as
against May 29 “is courageous and symbolic of empathy with an average Nigerian
who have lost faith in the nation’s leadership particularly, at the centre, as
well as in our electoral system since the annulment of the June 12 election in
1993 by IBB and the eventual murder of the symbol of the epoch-making electoral
exercise.”
