One of late MKO Abiola’s daughters Hafsat Abiola-Costello has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for declaring 12 June as Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

Buhari on Wednesday changed the date for the event from May 29 to June 12 in honour of the late Abiola.

Abiola was the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which was annulled by then military president, Ibrahim Babangida.
 
The President said the federal government shared the view of Nigerians that June 12 was more symbolic than May 29 or even Oct.1 as Democracy Day .

“June 12 ,1993 was the day when Nigerians in millions expressed their democratic will in what was indisputably the freest, fairest election since our independence,” Buhari said.

“The fact that the outcome of that election was not upheld does not distract from the democratic credentials of the process.”

And Abiola-Costello, in a statement on Thursday, said the declaration had ended the family’s long wait for government to recognise their father.

She described the declaration as a succour and a triumph of justice after 20 years of waiting.

“There are no words that can capture the depth of my gratitude nor the breadth of my joy,” she said.

“I thank God that I am alive to witness many more days when justice triumphs over injustice, when arrogance and fraud and when the blood of our heroes reach from across the time to boldly claim the reward that their actions wrought.

“May the sacrifices of our past heroes and heroines never be in vain,” she said.