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June 12: Don’t reduce its significance to mere celebrations of parties,DG, CCLCA, Dr Nwambu advises FG

Published

6 months ago

June 13, 2024

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Director General of Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness, CCLCA, Dr Gabriel Nwambu has advised the Federal Government not reduce the June 12 to mere celebrations of parties.

Dr Nwambu gave this advice in a statement entitled:’ The Significance of June 12 in Nigeria’s Journey to True Democracy’, noting that:

“June 12 holds great significance in Nigerian democracy as it symbolizes the struggle for a truly democratic government and the sacrifices made to achieve it. The significance of June 12 includes:

“Free and Fair Elections: On June 12, 1993, Nigeria held its presidential elections, which were widely regarded as the freest and fairest in the country’s history. The election saw Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, popularly known as MKO Abiola, win by a significant margin. This demonstrated Nigerians’ desire for a democratic system and the willingness to participate in the electoral process.

” Suppression and Struggle: Despite the overwhelming victory of MKO Abiola, the then military government, led by General Ibrahim Babangida, annulled the election results. This act of suppression sparked widespread protests and civil unrest across the country, as Nigerians demanded the restoration of their democratic mandate.

” Symbol of Democracy: June 12 became a powerful symbol of the fight for democracy and people’s resistance against military rule. The annulment of the election and subsequent protests raised national consciousness and highlighted the need for a democratic system based on the will of the people.

“MKO Abiola’s Detention and Death: Following the annulment, MKO Abiola was imprisoned by subsequent military governments for his refusal to renounce his electoral victory. He remained in detention until his death on June 12, 1998. His sacrifice and commitment to democratic principles turned him into a martyr for democracy, further amplifying the significance of the day.

” Democracy Day: In 2018, almost three decades after the annulled election, the Nigerian government officially recognized June 12 as Democracy Day and replaced the previous celebration on May 29. This change acknowledges the role of June 12 in Nigeria’s struggle for democracy and honors MKO Abiola’s legacy.

” National Healing: Honoring June 12 as Democracy Day allows Nigerians to come together and reflect on the importance of democracy and the need to protect and uphold the rights and freedoms it guarantees. It serves as a reminder of the progress made and the challenges that still need to be addressed to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.

“The significance of June 12 in Nigeria’s democracy should not be reduced to ceremonies that appears like someone’s birthday of sort, it should be a time to thinker, a time for sober reflection, a time for appraisal on our democratic Journey thus far, it lies in its representation of the struggle for democratic systems, the enthronement of the people’s will through free and fair elections, and the sacrifice made by MKO Abiola.

” It serves as a constant reminder of the value of democracy and the need to continually strive for its preservation and improvement. We should be able to profer solutions on how to improve on the lot of the Nigerian populace.

News

Speaker Abbas Mourns Victims Of Ibadan Funfair Stampede

Published

35 minutes ago

December 20, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, has expressed sadness over the death of children as a result of a stampede at a funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State. and described the incident as unfortunate.

Speaker Abbas, in his condolence message issued through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, commiserated with the government and the people of Oyo State, especially the families of the victims.

The Speaker, while calling for a thorough investigation of the incident to forestall a recurrence, called for caution during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Speaker Abbas prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased.

Naijablitznews.com recalled that the Oyo State Police Command has confirmed 35 children dead and six others sustaining varying degrees of injuries, following the pandemonium.

News

NUJ FCT Council Mourns Sudden Death of Former Council Secretary, Rafat Idris

Published

40 minutes ago

December 20, 2024

Naijablitznews

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Council FCT Council has mourned the sudden demise of the former Secretary of the Council, Mrs. Rafat Idris.

Mrs Rafat died in the early hours of Friday, December 20th 2024, in Abuja after a brief illness.

In a statement signed by the Secretary of Council, Comrade Jide Oyekunle described the untimely death of the former Secretary as a huge shock to the Union.

According to the statement, “The Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ ) FCT Council received the news of sudden death of the former Secretary, Mrs Rafat Salami today, Friday, December 2024, with a rude shock and disbelief.”

“Rafat is a great asset to journalism and a quintessential journalist who has served the union meritoriously in many capacities at different levels.”

“ She is a friend and mother to all.”

“She served the union with unwarranted dedication and commitment, contributing significantly to the growth of the profession during her tenure as Secretary of Council. She is a peace-loving and easygoing person who has remained a strong member. “

“She was not only a remarkable leader but also a cherished friend to many people in the profession. Her passion for professionalism and excellence will always be remembered. “

The council expresses its deep condolences to the immediate family she left behind, the NUJ Voice of Nigeria (VON) Chapel, the NUJ, and the entire VON management in this time of grief.

Rafat was the Assistant Director of Digital Media I Voice of Nigeria (VON). She was the former Assistant Secretary of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria and re-elected as the Treasurer of the Institute last week.

She was the founder of the Okenite Foundation for Special Needs Children and a Media Personnel of Habbabiya.

She hails from Ihima in the Okenne Local Government Area of Kogi State, and she is survived by three children.

She will be buried today at the Gudu Cemetery according to Islamic rite.

News

Non-Kinetic Approaches Boosting Southeast Peace Efforts – Deputy Speaker Kalu

Published

45 minutes ago

December 20, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, has affirmed that non-kinetic strategies aimed at tackling insecurity in the South-east region are showing promising outcomes.

Kalu made stated this while receiving the Outstanding Peace Ambassador Award from the House of Representatives Press Corps on Thursday, in recognition of his leadership in the “Peace in the South East Project” (PISE-P).

The event, held at the National Assembly Complex, also featured the unveiling of the fourth edition of the Press Corps’ magazine, “Green Sentinel”, alongside the launch of its website.

Kalu who represents Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, reaffirmed his dedication to fostering sustainable peace in the southeast and commended security agencies for embracing non-violent solutions to insecurity challenges. While acknowledging progress, he stressed the need for sustained efforts to achieve lasting peace.

Kalu also lauded the Press Corps, led by Comrade Gboyega Onadiran, for its professionalism in delivering accurate and timely reports on parliamentary activities to Nigerians.

He said, “Before now, I was the spokesperson of the House, and I worked with you. You have not changed. You remain consistent in ensuring that you do the right work with regards to the ethics of your profession.

“You’ve been feeding Nigerians with the right information. You’ve been unbundling what we do here, we want to be more transparent. You know what that has done for us is that it has increased the confidence level of Nigerians in the workings of the parliament, more than it used to be.

“And today, launching the Green Sentinel, this Green Sentinel started when I was with you. And you’ve not allowed a dream to die. And I’m so proud of you to support you to make sure that you keep telling the story.

“You’ve also gone ahead to give me an award, not just as one of you, but as one of you who is interested in peace and motivation. The motivation has been nothing but the fact that we only have one country. We don’t have two. All this division. North, South, West, doesn’t matter to people like us.

“In fact, the more it is dissolved, the better. The more we remove all these North, South, East, West, the better for us because we are one. Because we are one, we must preach peace to sustain that oneness. That is the truth. We must preach it starting from home and from the Southeast, and they say charity begins at home. There’s no how I would preach peace outside to the rest of the rest of Nigeria, while leaving what is in my area.

“You know, Southeast has been, you know, there’s been a crisis there for some time, even though it’s going down now a little bit through our various interventions, and through your own intervention, the way you report the stories there, it’s going down. But we started the Southeast Peace Project, which the President was there to launch on the 29th of December barely a year now.

“And with that, we lobbied for the South East Development Commission, we reached out to people and we are beginning to speak to those who are radicalized and say, please come. There are better ways of achieving what we want to achieve through the non-kinetic approach. We spoke to the military and the security forces and they have given their support and they are ensuring that the kinetic approach to resolving problems is not the only approach.

“It’s working. Are we there yet? No. Are we going to get there? Yes. Especially now that the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in his magnanimity approved the Southeast Development Commission Bill to become an Act and has gone ahead to make a budget proposal. So he’s not just talking the talk, he is walking the talk.

“What this would do for the peace project we are doing is that it’s going to calm the nerves of so many people who are agitating for one marginalization or the other. The President has now said this is the fund from the federation account to develop your place. What other excuse do you have to carry arms? What other excuse do you have to destroy your place? This is a peace tool that the President has given to us. And the President has taken that also to other regions of the country.

“The regional development agenda of Mr. President is a wonderful agenda because you see Northwest has received funds that are going to be used to calm the nerves of those there who are carrying out the insurgency and the rest of them. Northeast is working. Very soon, Southwest will start. South-South, and the rest of them. Before you know it, it would be every man to your own camp, develop your place. That is a regional agenda which worked for us before which is coming back again in the spirit of federalism and I’m sure it is going to work.

“So all this is because if we don’t pursue peace, there will be no unity. And if we don’t have unity, there will be no progress. Check our coat of arms. It says, peace, unity and progress. So if Nigeria wants to progress, the foundation is peace. Thank you for recognizing our work, and we pledge to partner with you to make sure that we achieve more within that space.”