A call has been made to the Governor of Lagos state Mr. BABAJIDE SANWOOLU to immortalise the acclaimed winner of June 12 1993 presidential election, late chief MKO Abiola in Epetedo area of Lagos, in view of the role which the community played in the historic pro-democracy struggle for the recognition of June 12 election and restoration of democracy in Nigeria. He also requested for recognition of past Heroes (Living and Dead) that the Community and Lagos Island has Produced.
In a recent memo sent to the Governor to commemorate this year Democracy Day anniversary by a Political strategist and APC member from the Epetedo area, Mr. KAYODE FUNSHO-KAS titled JUNE 12: A CALL FOR
POLICY ACTION IN EPETEDO, the party stalwart congratulated Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu on his 2nd term re-election as the Governor of Lagos State as well as the land mark inauguration of his mentor and predecessor in office, ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He prayed that the Lord will grant both of them sound
health and wisdom to successfully pilot the affairs of Lagos State and Nigeria respectively.
FUNSHO-KAS then proceed to pay glowing tributes to the President for his
role as one of the leading lights in the struggle for the enthronement of
democracy in Nigeria, since the annulment of June 12 1993 election by the
then Military junta.
The popular pro-democracy campaign was championed by NADECO in which Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was a prominent figure.
According to the Political Activist “one of the legacies of ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU as then Governor of Lagos State was the formulation of Pro-June 12 Policy thrust in the early life of his administration through
which a public holiday was declared on June 12 every year in commemoration of Democracy Day in Lagos State in honour of Late Chief M. K. O. ABIOLA”.
He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu “for
his consistency in playing a leading protagonist of the struggle for the
recognition of June 12, by the Federal Government of Nigeria under the
previous administrations since Nigeria return to Democracy in 1999, until the call was granted by the immediate Past Government of Former
President MUHAMMADU BUHARI”.
The Political Strategist situated the historical context of June 12
celebration at it affects Epetedo Community in another paragraph of the
well-researched memo; “The significance of the historic event of June 12
struggles was not lost on the People of Epetedo, who sheltered M.K.O
ABIOLA at the critical moment of his life and played host to the epochmaking June 12, Epetedo Declaration. The event was the last public appearance by M.K.O ABIOLA before his eventual arrest by lorry load of
heavily Armed Policemen in his private residence at Ikeja on the order of
the Military government of Gen. Sanni Abacha.
Abiola was clamped into detention in Abuja and charged with treasonable felony. Thus, the symbol of struggle for the restoration of June 12 Democratic Government began a
life in prison. His trial lingered for four (4) years before he later died in detention camp under controversial circumstance. in July 1998”(shortly
after Abacha surprised death in office).
As part of the initiatives of the Lagos State government to pursue June 12 as
a policy thrust of the then Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration as Governor, the following decision was highlighted in the memo as part of the affirmative action beside declaration of June 12 every year as public
holiday for the commemoration as Democracy Day, a policy which was later adopted by other Southwest states in subsequent years after Lagos.
Other policy decision by Lagos State Government to propagate June12 and
immortalized Abiola and his family are also listed in the memo addressed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as follows:
(a) Re-naming of Former Marwa Garden (Estate) Ikeja after M.K.O
ABIOLA
(b) Rehabilitation and Re-naming of popular Oregun Road, Ikeja after Late
ALHAJA KUDIRAT ABIOLA
(c) Construction of a Cenotaph at 7Up Roundabout junction, Ikeja in honour
and memory of LATE ALHAJA KUDIRAT ABIOLA, the Amazon and
popular wife of M.K.O ABIOLA at the very junction where she was
assassinated on June 4 1996 by the Military Junta in the course of the popular pro-democracy struggle to reclaim the mandate stolen from her husband who was then already in detention. Late Pa. ALFRED
REWANE,the renowned leader of NADECO was also assassinated as well as many unsung Heroes in the course of the struggle for June 12 restoration. May their souls continue to rest in peace (Amen).
On a final note, Mr. Kayode Funsho-Kas urged Mr. Governor to key into the June 12 Policy initiative and decisions of President Bola
Ahmed Tinubu since Three (3) decades of his political struggle by, “According
Epetedo Community of Lagos-Island a due Recognition and Patronage in view of her historic role and contributions to the
Epic struggle for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria”.
The Political activist concluded the incisive memo by making the following
requests from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration:
(a) Lagos State Government should make a Policy statement for Lagos Island
in order to reflect the historical perspective of the celebration which culminated in the EPETEDO DECLARATION by Chief M. K. O. ABIOLA, to mark 1st year Anniversary of June 12 (in 1994).
(b) The State government should set-in motion the process that will lead to
the Reconstruction of the historic venue in Epetedo Area into an Ultramodern Multi-purpose event centre.
The complex should be dedicated to the Memory and Honour of Late
Chief M.K.O ABIOLA on completion, and be made available in future
for the use of the general public, beside playing host to subsequent
annual June 12 commemorative programme.
The New proposed June 12 EPETEDO DECLARATION CENTRE should
be converted to state/National monument and maintained as a Tourist
centre, after Re-construction and commissioning for public use.
The proposed June 12 Declaration Centre, which is located in the
heart of Lagos City can attract maximum patronage through frequent
usage for all Social engagement, Socio-cultural events as well as Political activities at moderate charges to generate revenue
for regular maintenance of facilities within the
complex.
The Implementation of the Recommendation according to him “will go a long way to transform Epetedo area on Lagos–Island and showcase the commitment of Lagos State Government to the rehabilitation of decayed
infrastructure across the state, especially in the premier Local Government
Area; to sustain the mega city status Project of Lagos State Government as driven by the vision of Mr. Governor and his predecessors in the Centre of Excellence
– Report Reviewed By:
Olabode Adeyeri
Founder/TeamLead, Citizen Communications Network [Publisher of Citizen NewsNG & Citizen Magazine]
Lagos, Nigeria.