June 12 is a unique day- GEJ

President Goodluck Jonathan has described June 12 as a unique day “that has changed the political history of this country in one way or the other.”

Mr. Jonathan, who spokes to State House reporters in Abuja, said, “In some parts of the country some state governments have declared public holiday to mark today, but at the centre it has not been formally recognised as a public holiday.”

The president did not say whether o not he would heed the calls to recognise the day.

Mr. Jonathan told inaugurated members of the Police Service Commission that “we appreciate what happened on this day, that you are being inaugurated on this date, I think is a unique date.”

June 12 is marked as Democracy Day in some south western states in remembrance of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by Moshood Abiola of the then Social Democratic Party. The election, considered Nigeria’s freest and fairest, was annulled by the military government and Mr. Abiola was later detained and died in prison.

Speaking with journalists after the swearing in ceremony, the chairman of the police commission, Mike Okiro, assured that his commission will address the issues that are were hindering the optimal performance of the Police Force.

“We will look at the extant laws and see the areas that the Police Service Commission is supposed to act to reform the Nigerian Police force and if it is an issue that requires the handiwork and cooperation of everybody; the press, you people, Nigerians, and the police officers themselves have to open up their minds for reform,” he said.

He said the police perform better outside Nigeria because the environment is different and they had more equipment and resources to work with.

“It is not an indictment on the system neither is it on the presidency or me. What we are talking about is that time changes, society is dynamic. What happened few years ago is not what is happening now. You know at that time there was no Boko Haram but there is right now,” he added.

Source: Premium Times

June 12! The Hero of Our Struggle Must Not Die in Vain

June 12! The Hero of Our Struggle Must Not Die in Vain

On a day like this, there is need for operators of our democracy to reflect over the functionality of our nascent democracy viz a viz the delivery of dividends to the electorates. June 12 has become a day that can not be easily forgotten in the annals of the nation. It is a day Nigerians came out en masse to vote the late business mogul, philanthropist and pillar of sport Bashorun MKO Abiola of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) as President in a keenly contested election..

The election regarded as the freest and fairest by the local and foreign observers was later annulled by the military administration of Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida in a controversial manner. The rest is now history!

The man at the centre of the struggle remain committed to getting his voluntarily given mandate thus vigorously pressurized the government of the day to retrieve his mandate and ascend the highest office in the nation but was later captured and dealt with before his death in the later year. The supporting roles of the NADECO, the NANS, registered unions, social movements, traditional rulers can not be over emphasized.

One thing was clear in the struggle that Chief MKO Abiola died in the course of seeking for change in governance as reflected in the coming out of the Nigerian people to vote out the military juntas having over stayed their welcome with the attendant intimidation, oppression, and forceful rule. It then translate to the fact that Chief MKO Abiola died in the course of seeking justice, fairness and equity. He fought to install a democratic rule and bring sanity to Nigeria unfortunately, he died with his dream.

To this end, rather than marking a day like this with. merriment, street matching, public lectures etc. Operators of our democracy should stand tall for what MKO died for by delivering dividends of democracy, alleviate the sufferings of the people, install sanity and do away from oppression, victimization, dictatorship, and other forms of unjustly acts.

On our part as a political party, we shall strive to promote democratic norms, ideal principles of justice, fairness and equity to install sanity if given a key role to play in the next dispensation. Our administration will not remember the "sacrificial lamb" with merriment, street matching and public lectures alone but live to the dreams of the late business mogul by delivering the dividends of democracy having felt the pulse of the masses.

We pray to God Almighty to comfort the family of the deceased and equally grant the "symbol of democracy" an eternal rest..

Adieu! Bashorun Moshood Kasimawo Olawale Abiola, the Aare ona-kankanfo of Yorubaland.

RIP MKO.

JUNE 12 and Hypocrites. - Michael Faraday Michael.

JUNE 12 and Hypocrites.

The same people who collected bribe from Abacha to kill June 12 and deny Abiola from becoming president, and the same people who protested against Abiola being immortalized with the University of Lagos, is still the same people coming out here today to rant about celebrating June 12 and honouring Abiola. 
Where exactly do these people stand??
Hypocrisy is a very dangerous ailment! -

by Michael Faraday Michael.

Nigeria Unsung HERO. Professor Humphrey Nwosu.

He made the Difference. Professor Humphrey Nwosu was the chairman of the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria appointed by President Ibrahim Babangida, holding office from 1989 to 1993.
He organised the Nigerian Freest and Fairest Election in 1993 (option A4). 
Prof was warned by the Military authorities not to release the Presidential election presumed won by Chief MKO Abiola, but the Principled Professor rejected the order and continued announcing the results in National Radio and television.

Soldiers were ordered to manhandled Prof Nwosu and stop further announcement of the election results. The soldiers manhandled him, by knocked off about 9 teeth from his mouth and several others were broken in half. He was left in pool of blood and battled to save his life for many months.

He was forgotten by History, but PDPYC did not. Today we celebrate this Nigerian unsung Hero.

ON THESE INSULTS AND LIES ABOUT GOODLUCK JONATHAN, WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM IT?

It has been going round the internet the quotes from the former EFCC boss, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu describing President Goodluck Jonathan as an autocratic leader and having dictatorial tendencies. 'Dictator' like 'clueless', is now a song being echoed by the opposition since the president declared a state of emergency in 3 North Eastern states of Nigeria and Baning Boko Haram and Ansaru the bloodthirsty terrorist groups that have been making lives unbearable for Nigerians. 

Shocking was Ribadu describing Jonathan as an autocratic President, instead of their usual Weak leader, the same word used by the 6 Nigerians that hired some Asians and North Africans to Protest against the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria in the street of Westminster in London, two weeks ago.

It is now apparent that these people are in a journey of using structured lies to discredit the president of Federal Republic of Nigeria, irrespective of their previous attestation on the person and character of Goodluck Jonathan.

THEIR PAST TESTIMONY ABOUT JONATHAN:

''Jonathan Was Never On EFCC List Of Corrupt Governors'' - Mallam Nuhu Ribadu [10 October, 2010].
''Jonathan Goodluck is Clean And Honest on financial accountability and transparency'' – Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. [April 2007].

"I Never Investigated Mrs Jonathan of any offence as EFCC Boss. When I was in EFCC, I never, I never, I never invited Mrs Jonathan for questioning or take her statement. All the reports in the media were lies. For instance, it was initially reported that N70 million was lodged into her bank. Later, it was reported that the money ran into millions of dollars. Such was the extent of the lies. We never handled a case against Patience Jonathan.” - Mallam Nuhu Ribadu [Nov 2010].

It is important to know that, everyone cannot be a minister or adviser to the President and it is not fair on Nigerians that some people who think that the country is their private property and who were not opportuned to be given a juicy Government position should out of anger destroy the country or make the country ungovernable.