Appeals made by MKO Abiola’s children on June 12

The children of Late Moshood Abiola has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to enact a bill that officially makes June 12 Democracy Day.

While speaking with journalists at the annual prayer held for their Late father, MKO, at the Oja Agbo family house in Abeokuta, they asked that the change in Democracy Day be made into law to avoid future cancelation.

Ameen Abiola expressed the family’s appreciation towards the support received from both Federal and state government. He emphasised the need for the June 12 bill stating the need for future generations to understand its purpose.

“We appreciate the Federal Government of Nigeria for the honor done our father. He is not only our father but father of many Nigerians given the supreme sacrifice he had to pay for the democracy that we are all enjoying today. We thank former President Muhammad Buhari for conferring on our father the award of GCFR. It is a great step in the right direction. However it is our passionate appeal that the Federal Government can permanently enact a bill that will forever make June 12 Democracy Day,” he said.

He also spoke on how social media narratives can sometimes misinform the younger generation. Hence, the need to preserve and protect their father’s sacrifice and legacy.

“This will forestall a situation where future generations who may not understand the roles that our father played in returning the country to democratic rule to abolish this June 12 Democracy Day which is picked to celebrate our father, Chief MKO Abiola. Some generation currently don’t understand the values, the roles and sacrifice of our father, Chief MKO Abiola. It is our hope that a bill can be signed permanently. And that Democracy Day will continue to exist till the end of time in Nigeria. Some youth don’t understand the values of our late father going by what we read sometimes on the social media,” he said.

The children also pleaded with the Ogun state government to reform the Abiola house into a national treasure.

“The Ogun State government should turn around the Abiola house to a national monument. Given his pedigree and invaluable contributions to the development of the country. And by what he stood for democratically. We believe that Abiola’s family house at Oja agbo, Gbagura, Abeokuta should be made a national monument,” he said.