June 12: Oshiomhole Hails Abiola, Others Over Democracy

Written by Uchechukwu Olisah, Benin City
Saturday, 12 June 2010

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has hailed the acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola and other Nigerians who died in the struggle for the reclamation of mandate for paving the way for the current democracy being enjoyed in the country.

Oshiomhole, who spoke before departing to South Africa as a member of the Federal government delegation to support the Super Eagles in their opening 2010 World Cup match against Argentina, said “Chief Abiola and scores of other Nigerians paid the ultimate price by laying down their lives for the enthronement of a true and enduring democracy in the country.”

He said for the sacrifice they made not to be in vain 17 years after the annulment, Nigerians had a duty to ensure that democracy endured and that they should shun things that could endanger the nation’s democracy.

“A way to do this is for the electorate not to be intimidated on election days or be bought over by those who, by their selfish ambitions, had kept them in perpetual poverty. The people should, in their full freedom, use the power of their ballot to elect into office, those they want or remove those that had failed to deliver on their electoral promises. This, to me, is the true dividend of democracy; the power of the common man to elect or remove from office,” he added.

Oshiomole also said “the electorate must ensure that the principle of “One Man, One Vote,” is strictly adhered with to discourage election riggers and to put ballot box snatchers out of their business; the people must ensure that their votes count during elections by following the ballot to the collation centres to ensure that the correct figures are recorded.

According to the governor, “When the votes of the people count, the supreme sacrifice paid by Abiola and other Nigerians in their bid to ensure the validation of the June 12 election would not have been in vain.”