…confers GCFR on MKO Abiola

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the annual celebration of Democracy Day on May 29 of every year has been cancelled, saying the Democracy Day will henceforth be celebrated on June 12.

He argued that June 12, 1993 which was the date of the election popularly adjudged to be the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history, “was far more symbolic of democracy in the Nigerian context than May 29 or even October 1.”

Buhari also announced that MKO Abiola, winner of the annulled election of June 12, 1993, will be posthumously awarded the highest honour in the land, which is the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, GCFR.
Read the full statement below:

Dear Nigerians, I am delighted to announce that, after due consultations, the Federal Govt has decided that henceforth, June 12 will be celebrated as Democracy Day.
We have also decided to award posthumously the highest Honour in the land, GCFR, to the late Chief MKO Abiola. pic.twitter.com/VyYftmvWKA

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) 6 June 2018