Kalu to deliver OPC lecture on June 12 as Ogun declares holiday

Ogun State government has declared Wednesday, public holiday to mark the 20th anniversary of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.

Orji Uzor Kalu, the former governor of Abia State, will on Wednesday deliver a lecture to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the annulled election.

Kalu will speak on the topic, “20 years after June 12: Options for survival,” at a lecture organised by the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC).

The election, described as Nigeria’s freest and fairest so far, was won by late business mogul, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, but was annulled by the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.

In a statement by Taiwo Adeoluwa, Secretary to State Government (SSG), the government said public holiday would enable the people to further appreciate the watershed that the annulled election represents, particularly as it serves as the forebear of the current democracy, which the country now enjoys.

As part of the anniversary of the day, which the state recognises as Democracy Day, the government will host a ‘Democracy Walk and Rally’ in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Expected to participate in the walk are workers, students, market women and men, artisans, members of civil society, pro-democracy groups, Non-Governmental Organisations, Community Development Associations, professional groups, trade associations, National Union of Road Transport Workers(NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), ACOMORAN, AMORAN, religious organisations and the general public.

The walk will commence at 7.30am from the June 12 Cultural Centre in Kuto, Abeokuta, and move through Kuto to Oke Ilewo, Lalubu Road, newly constructed Ibara-Sokori-Totoro Road to Enu Garder Lafenwa to Ago Ika, Oke-Ido and have its first stop in the family house of late Abiola in Oja Igbo, where Governor Ibikunle Amosun will lead others to pay homage to the family of the late politician.

From Abiola’s family house, the train will move to Odo Oyo, Itoku, Sapon, Ago Oko, Ake, Isale Ake, Oke Ejigbo, Ijaye, Iyana Mortuary to Abiola Way back to M.K.O. Stadium, where Amosun will address the people before everybody.

Motorists who must travel along the route are advised to be conscious of the heavy human traffic expected on the roads.

The OPC lecture, which holds at Excellence Hotel, Ogba, Lagos State, on June 12 at 11.am, according to National Coordinator, Gani Adams, the Chief Host, will have Kalu as Guest Speaker and renowned academic, Prof. Akin Oyebode as chairman.

The Special Guests of Honour will be Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji; former President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Priscilla Kuye; and President, Campaign for Democracy/Women Arise, Joe-Okei-Odumakin.