ABUJA — President Bola Tinubu has paid glowing tribute to former President Muhammadu Buhari for officially designating June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day and posthumously recognizing Chief MKO Abiola as the duly elected president of the June 12, 1993 election.
Tinubu made the commendation on Thursday during his address at the Joint Session of the National Assembly, held to commemorate the 2025 Democracy Day.
He also honoured the memory of several other figures who contributed to Nigeria’s democratic struggle, stressing that while Abiola was the central figure of June 12, the nation must not forget others who paid the ultimate price or suffered persecution under military rule.
“We must celebrate the courage of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola and Pa Alfred Rewane, both of whom were murdered by agents of military repression,” the President said.
He further recognized the sacrifices of civil rights activists, journalists, and politicians who were imprisoned, exiled, tortured, or silenced during the period of military dictatorship.
Among those specially mentioned were Chief Anthony Enahoro, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Chief Abraham Adesanya, Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Balarabe Musa, Ganiyu Dawodu, Bagauda Kaltho, and Commodore Ndubuisi Kanu.
“I mention these names not to exclude or degrade the profound contributions of anyone else but to illustrate, through these few heroes, the universality of our pursuit of democracy,” Tinubu said.
He emphasized that the struggle for democracy transcended ethnic, regional, and political lines, saying, “It was pan-Nigerian in its conception and will be even more as we strive to perfect it.”
