The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said that whatever the Nigerian Government was doing to celebrate June 12 in memory of Chief M.K.O Abiola, as well as many other heroes and students of democracy in Nigeria worth celebrating.
Mohammed who stated this on Thursday during a press briefing at Radio House in Abuja said, Buhari-led government had done enough to honour Chief Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election
He said, as part of programme lined up to mark this year celebration, President Mohammadu Buhari would address the nation through a live broadcast on Sunday, June 12, 2022, by 7:00 am.
In addition to a posthumous award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, GCFR honoured Abiola, President Buhari had also in 2018, directed that Nigeria’s Democracy Day, which was hitherto marked every May 29, be shifted to June 12,
The Minister listed some of the activities lined up for the Democracy Day celebration to include a public lecture at the National Mosque on Friday and Jumaat prayers on the same day and venue on June 10, 2022.
According to him, this would be followed by the President’s address and a church service at the National Christian Centre by 3pm on Sunday, June 12, 2022.
He said there would also be a Democracy Day parade at the Eagle Square in Abuja on Monday morning.
Mohammed assured that all events would be held and there would be no security breaches.
The minister added that attendance “at these events are strictly by invitation and in line with the COVID-19 protocol”.
“So, I think the Federal Government has done enough in addition to the fact that several state governments have followed suit. We have in our small way be courageous enough to declare this day a public holiday, I think it is the best gift to any Nigerian,” he said.
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