Osun State Government yesterday failed to
observe the Democracy Day anniversary like it was done in other states of the
federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The state Governor, Gov. Rauf Aregbesola had upon assumption of office in November 2010 declared
that his government would only recognize June 12 every year as the Democracy
Day.
However,
during the seven and a half years administration of former governor Olagunsoye
Oyinlola, Democracy Day was always celebrated with special programmes.
But
the last two Democracy Day anniversaries celebrated in the state had been
devoid of celebrations, as the state’s helmsman did not give recognition to the
day as the Democracy Day.
Although,
workers in the employment of the state government enjoyed the public holiday
declared by the Federal Government, the people of the state stayed indoors as
there was no programme to commemorate the day.
Also,
the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that used to organize
public lectures to mark the anniversary did not turn up for this year’s
anniversary and no explanation was given for the party’s decision.
The
state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Sunday Akere while
commenting on the decision of the state government, said the present
administration in the state believed in true democracy, hence its resolve to
recognize June 12 and not May 29 as the real Democracy Day.
He
said: “May 29 was just handover day. It was the day the military handed over to
Olusegun Obasanjo and that was not the Democracy Day. What we are all enjoying
today was as a result of the event of the June 12, 1993. So, our Democracy Day
in Osun is June 12.
“We
cannot join the rest of Nigeria to do a wrong thing knowing that the real
Democracy Day is June 12. Every one of us today is benefiting from June 12. It
is wrong for anybody to say that May 29, which was hand over day, was Democracy
Day in Nigeria.”
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