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June 11, 2010
17TH ANNIVERSARY OF JUNE 12TH; SOLIDARITY MESSAGE
The Citizens Popular Party (CPP) joins Nigerians in observing the 17th anniversary
of June 12th and calls on the Federal Government to immortalize the hero of our
democratic struggle and defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential flag
bearer, Late Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola.
We pay tributes to our compatriots who died in our collective efforts to actualize
the June 12th presidential mandate, with a view to enthroning sustainable democracy
in Nigeria. We also salute all patriots and cadres who survived the military
onslaught against the fatherland. For the first time Nigerians voted in an election
and for once their votes were counted and it counted.
Nigerians democratic aspirations and hopes were expressly manifested in the June 12,
1993, presidential election won by Abiola and ingloriously annulled by General
Ibrahim Babangida in his unpatriotic quest to perpetuate military dictatorship. It
is an irony that the same Babangida who nullified the freest, most peaceful and
credible election ever conducted in Nigeria, wants to contest the 2011 presidential
election.
Recently Babangida acknowledged the credibility and sanctity of June 12th
when he said. “We cannot deny him (Abiola) the fact that he fought for democracy and
I am glad that government is accepting it…. I want to see a situation whereby he
will be immortalized in this country”.
In the minds of all patriots that date is the authentic democracy day. The CPP in
government either alone or with its allies in the Patriotic Alliance of Nigeria
(PAN) come 2011 would declare June 12th as Democracy day in Nigeria.
CPP welcomes the appointment of Professor Attahiru Jega as the INEC Chairman. He is
a distinguished Nigerian. We are however cautiously optimistic of the capacity of
the electoral body to conduct free, fair, transparent, peaceful and credible
elections. Our reservation is based on the fact that the nation has had credible
INEC Chairmen who did not live up to expectation in conducting credible elections.
We concede that a tree cannot make a forest. The actions and inaction of the other
12 National Commissioners and 37 Resident Electoral Commissioners right down to the
774 Electoral Officers in the Local Government Areas and Presiding Officers in the
120,000 official polling units would definitely impact the entire electoral process.
We urge Nigerians to participate actively in the forthcoming 2011 general elections.
All eligible voters should register, ensure that their names are in the voters
register, vote and protect their votes at various polling booths. This is the only
way the votes will not only be counted but also count. It is important that the
results of the 2011 general elections should reflect the wish of the electorate.
The 2011 general election is yet another golden opportunity for the federal
government to project the image of the nation around the world. This will be more
efficacious than a million absurd rebranding jingles. This is the acid test for
President Goodluck Jonathan and the new INEC Chairman Professor Attahiru Jega.
As the self-acclaimed giant of Africa, Nigeria must be the great arsenal of
democracy in the continent. The only Golden Jubilee present the masses demand from
President Goodluck Jonathan led Federal Government is a free, fair, peaceful and
credible 2011 general election. The whole world is watching us.
BARR. MAXI OKWU
NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, CPP |