The House of Representatives was thrown into a rowdy session at its plenary on Thursday 7th June 2018 as Members were sharply divided over President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent declaration that June 12 would replace May 29 as a national public holiday in celebration of Nigeria’s Democracy day. This followed a motion moved by Hon. Wale Raji (APC: Lagos) which sought to commend the President for moving the said celebration to a day that was symbolic of Nigeria’s struggle for democracy.
The House recalled its efforts in urging the Federal Government to confer a posthumous National honor on the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola in recognition of his achievement, contribution and sacrifice to Nigeria’s peace, unity and progress and progress in June last year. It referred to President Buhari’s press statement on Wednesday, 6th June 2018 where he conferred the highest award of he land, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) to the said Chief Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 elections and acknowledged the President’s posthumous award to Chief Abiola’s running mate Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe and respected human rights lawyer, Chief Gani Fayehinmi (SAN) who were both honoured as Grand Commander of the Niger (GCON).
In addition, Hon. Wale Raji called for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release the result of the 1993 election and declare Moshood Abiola, President-elect of an election widely acclaimed as being free, fair and credible. He also urged the House to commend Buhari for the courageous step while adding that it was a sign that the President listens to the voice of the people.
Contributing to the motion, Hon. Chris Azubogu (PDP: Anambra) commended Hon. Raji for raising a worthy initiative while drawing the attention of the House to the omission of Mr Humphrey Nwosu who was excluded from the list of those given national awards, despite being a key player in the neutrality of the elections and had risked his life to conduct a free and fair election. Hon. Mojeed Alabi (APC: Osun) also stressed the significance and appropriateness of holding the Democracy Day celebrations on June 12 rather than May 29 noting that only Osun State had recognised June 12 as Democracy Day prior to the President’s declaration. He then commended the President before urging the House to support the motion.
However, Hon. Edward Pwajok (APC: Plateau) drew the attention of the House to a “legal impediment” presented by the Public Holidays Act which states that May 29 shall be recognised as National Democracy Day and advised for the Act to be amended for the President’s declaration to take effect. He also referred to some other legal hitches such as that a contestant has to be declared winner by the National Returning Officer to be properly referred to as President-elect and mentioned that a Court Order prohibited INEC from releasing the result of the June 12, 1993 elections. A rowdy session however erupted in the House when Hon. Nicholas Ossai (PDP: Delta) in a supporting contribution, challenged the President’s declaration and stated that a change in the date of the said celebrations could only take effect by an amendment to the Public Holidays Act.
Nevertheless, the Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Yakubu Dogara (APC: Bauchi) appeared to calm tensions when he stated that section 2 of the said Act gives the President powers to declare a special day as a public holiday. He subsequently forwarded the motion to the Committees on Justice and Rules and Business for further consultations and recommendations to the House.
