June 12: Ambode, Pro-democracy Leaders Demand Restructuring of Nigeria

By Gboyega Akinsanmi

A group of pro-democracy activists on Sunday marked the 23rd anniversary of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, asking President Muhammadu Buhari to initiate the process of restructuring Nigeria to end inequality and unfairness that characterise the country’s federal structure.

The pro-democracy activists, who converged on LTV 8 complex, Agidingbi, also demanded that Buhari should declare the acclaimed winner of the election, Bashorun M.K.O Abiola the elected President of Nigeria.

The leaders that made the demands include Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Convener ofthe Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER), Mr. Ayo Opadokun, and chieftain of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu among others.

At the anniversary which was organised by Lagos State Office of Civic Engagement, Opadokun noted that Nigeria “will never get out of the wood unless we restructure this skewed, warped, lopsided national structure. June 12 will continue to be relevant until we end inequality and unfairness in our federation.”

Opadokun lamented that a lot of things were wrong with Nigeria, explaining that majority of Nigerians gave MKO Abiola the mandate “to govern Nigeria for a period of time. But a small set of people decided that MKO Abiola would not assume power. As a result, they subverted the popular will.”