June 12: Nigeria now more divided than 1993 -MOSOP

Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), on Wednesday, urged President Mohammadu Buhari to promote national reconciliation and healing through June 12.

MOSOP President, Legborsi Pyagbara also lamented that Buhari administration has destroyed all efforts to turn Nigeria into a first world nation, which the June 12 election intended to achieve.

According to him: “There is no denying the fact that Nigeria is today far more divided than we were in 1993 when the June 12 elections were annulled.

“It, therefore, behoves on the government at all levels to seize this opportunity of the recognition of June 12 as Democracy Day to initiate the process of strengthening national reconciliation and healing among the various ethnic groups, particularly the Ogoni people.

“The Federal Government wronged the Ogoni grievously with the hanging of the Ogoni Nine and as such, it should take further steps to ensure that the philosophy and ideals behind the June 12 struggle are also respected and given ultimate attention,” he said.

He said that no other event in the country’s history better suited that purpose than the June 12, 1993, presidential election, when all Nigerians irrespective of religion and ideology dropped their various identities, spoke in one voice for the first time and voted a presidential candidate in an exercise devoid of religious and ethnic sentiments, Guardian reports.

MOSOP argued that it was not the celebration of June 12 that mattered, but a realisation of the ideals of the struggle, enthronement of true democracy, giving hope to Nigerians through good governance and allowing the will of the people to prevail in all democratic engagements.

“June 12, no doubt, has become a symbol of democracy because of the various actors and key players that made sacrifices for justice, respect of the rule of law, as well as an end to dictatorship and hopelessness in Nigeria.

“We urge the Nigerian government not to engage in mere celebration, but to truly honour the heroes of the Ogoni struggle by instituting a memoriam in honour of Ken Saro-Wiwa and all others,” he said.