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Kokori to speak at Lagos NUJ lecture

By Omon-Julius Onabu

A pressure group, the Forum for Justice and Human Defence (FJHD) Monday insisted that the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, should be accorded the posthumous title of an ex-president even though he was not sworn in as President, due to the controversy, which trailed his election then under General Ibrahim Badamosi

Babangida administration.

Similarly, the former General Secretary of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Chief Frank Kokori, would be the guest speaker at a one-day event being organised by the Lagos State council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), to mark the 20th anniversary of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

But a statement issued by the National Coordinator of the group, Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, and e-mailed to THISDAY in Warri, the group argued that June 12 every year should be set aside as national holiday in honour of Abiola, popularly known as MKO, or else June 12 could not be dedicated as ‘Democracy Day’ in Nigeria.

The group also appealed to Presidency Goodluck Jonathan to immortalise Abiola, who was the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election in Nigeria as the flag bearer of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), through the naming of a notable national monument or institution after him.

The group lamented the inexplicable cancellation of the 1993 presidential election after the conclusion of the exercise globally adjudged the best ever held in Nigeria.

The statement read: “We members of the Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence (fjhd), do hereby join the human rights community in Nigeria and all true democrats from all works of life as they gather to mark this year’s June 12 day in commemoration of the 1993 presidential election won by late Chief MKO Abiola, and which the said election was illegally annulled by the military junta of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, in a nationwide broadcast barely two weeks after the said exercise.

“The above presidential election held on June 12, 1993 remains the best and the fairest election to be held throughout the chequered history of elections in Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, Kokori, a major player during the battle for the actualisation of the June 12 mandate, would be speaking on the theme: “Post June 12: The Good and the Bad”, at the lecture scheduled for Wednesday, at the Lagos Airport Hotel, in Ikeja by 10 a.m.

A statement issued by the Chairman of Lagos NUJ, Mr. Deji Elumoye and Secretary, Mr. Sylva Okereke, stated that other personalities expected to discuss Kokori’s paper include Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN); former Managing Director of Concord Press, Dr. Doyin Abiola; Deputy Managing Director of THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Kayode Komolafe and the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr. Femi Adesina.

Former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu, is expected to chair the lecture, while the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, will be the chief host with former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, as  special guest of honour.

Other dignitaries expected at the Lecture include the former NADECO Chieftain, Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade (retd);  former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele and former Governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande.

In the same vein, President of the NUJ, Mallam Mohammed Garba, will be the host, while past and present leaders of the union would also be in attendance.

The statement further noted that the event would also enable Nigerians, who were not part of the struggle, the opportunity to know what happened during the June 12 crisis.