Dan Orbih, Edo State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP), on Wednesday, faulted President Muhammadu Buhari’s conferment of Post
humous award of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (GCFR) on
late M.K.O, Abiola, declaring that the greatest honour befitting for the latter
would be to ensure a free, fair and credible elections, which Abiola fought and
died for.
This is even as a group, Conference of Non-Governmental
Organisations (CONGOs), called on Nigerians to eschew political, religious and
ethnic sentiments and support June 12 as a true Democracy Day. The group
through its leader, Daisy Idufueko Abiola, gave the charge in a peaceful march
to mark the day in Benin City on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Orbih, who faulted the Federal Government in Benin City
on Wednesday, said the government at the centre should stop the clampdown on
opposition party faithful, charging it to respect the rule of law in order to
prove that the government is a democratic one.
He said the APC ‘jamboree’ on the June 12 issue was another plot
to hoodwink a particular section of the country into voting the ruling party in
the 2019 general election.
Orbih,
who described the June 12 ceremony by the Federal Government as a jamboree,
said the likes of the late Professor Omo Omoruyi, Director General, Centre for
Democratic Studies, Tony Anenih, former national Chairman, defunct Social
Democratic Party (SDP) and the man who conducted the election, Professor
Humphrey Nwosu, who are national figures deserving of the national honours,
were left out.
He accused the APC government of playing tribal politics with the
national honours award to a certain section of the country particularly, the
Southwest and the North.
Orbih said, “There is this attempt by some group of politicians
trying to now make June 12 a Yoruba event. It is a national event and should be
seen from that angle.”
He cautioned the Federal Government not to reduce June 12 to a
regional or tribal event, noting that its essence should reflect all those who
fought for the survival of democracy in the country.
“Today, people are talking of June 12 and nobody is talking about
Prof. Omo Omoruyi . This to me is an attempt by some group of politicians who
want to make June 12 a Yoruba event.
“What is good for those who fought for June 12 is good for all.
You do not need to come from certain section of the country to be recognised
for your nationalistic contributions towards our democratic government.
“So, June 12 is a watershed in the politics of Nigeria where
people from all tribes supported that the military must be ease out of power.
So, the attempt to tribalise or politicise it by the Federal Government is
quite unfortunate”, he said.
Independent
Comments
Post a Comment