7th July, 2011
To commemorate the 13th anniversary of Bahsorun MKO Abiola’s death while in detention, the Ogun State Government has declared today a work-free day.
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State declared the work-free day to honour the hero of democracy in Nigeria. Government offices, schools and other public places were closed in the state today.
The announcement was made yesterday.
Abiola contested the 12 June, 1993 presidential election on the platform of the then Social Democratic Party, SDP, and won.
He beat his only opponent and candidate of the National Republican Convention, NRC, by a wide margin of over two million votes.
But the former military dictator, General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the election on 23 June, 1993.
Disturbed by the people’s civil disobedience, sit at home orders by rights activities, Babangida was forced out of power on 27 August 1993, when he stepped aside and made Chief Ernest Shonekan, head of the Interim National Government.