Ekiti Assembly Speaker, Aribasoye Pays Tributes To Heroes Of June 12 Struggle

By Olarewaju Falayi 

The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, has paid tributes to the heroes of the June 12 struggle as he hailed the roles played by the likes of late Pa Abraham Adesanya, Kudirat Abiola, Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Late Pa Enahoro as well as Femi Falana, General Alani Akinrinade, Frank Kokori amind many others. 

Aribasoye in his release urged the people of Ekiti State and other Nigerians at large to continue keeping faith in the Country’s democracy to build a stronger and a more united nation.

Rt. Hon. Aribasoye in a message on the occasion of 2023 Democracy Day said June 12 has become Nigeria’s most  important milestone of democracy and a platform that recognizes the people’s right to speak with their votes on the choice of their leaders.

The Speaker noted that it is symbolic that the 30th anniversary of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by champion of popular democracy and business mogul, Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, regarded as the freest and fairest election in the annals of Nigeria is being marked when another hero of democracy, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, recently assumed office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Rt. Hon. Aribasoye urged Nigerians to continue to defend their hard-earned democracy which he noted was watered with the blood of Chief Abiola, his wife, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola and many of their compatriots who fought against the annulment of the election by the military.

The Speaker also used the opportunity to pay tributes to other heroes of June 12, both living and the dead, for their sacrifices to ensuring that democracy was restored and fully entrenched in Nigeria and has continued to ensure till today.

He said: “We must not forget the sacrifices of Nigerian patriots like late Chief Anthony Enahoro, late Chief Abraham Adesanya, late Chief Alfred Rewane, late Air Commodore Dan Suleiman, late Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), late Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti, late Baba Omojola, Gen Alani Akinrinade(retd), late Chief Olabiyi Durojaye, late Dr Amos Akingba, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Colonel Abubakar Umar (retd), Chief Frank Kokori, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), Mr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Oba Olu Falae, late Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Dr Kayode Fayemi (of the Radio Kudirat fame) and many others too numerous to mention.

“Some of them lost their lives in the course of the struggle, a good number of them were detained without trial, some were hounded into exile and many others suffered untold hardship and denial of their fundamental human rights in the vanguard of fighting for this democracy we are all enjoying today.

“They gave their all, including the payment of the supreme price, shed their blood and sweat and suffered many deprivations for the attainment of the democracy we are enjoying today. Without these sacrifices our democracy wouldn’t have been possible.

“We need to reciprocate by contributing to the growth of democracy by participating in governance, exercising our franchise, joining political parties of our choice, imbibing democratic principles and working to strengthen our institutions to deepen our democracy.”

The Speaker enjoined Nigerians to support President Tinubu noting that he was an integral part of Hope ’93 and is now the torchbearer of Renewed Hope ’23 describing him as a man who has seen it all and whose experience would benefit Nigerians.

He also urged the people of Ekiti State irrespective of the political leanings to support Governor Biodun Oyebanji whom he said has taken good governance to a higher pedestal with incontrovertible evidences on ground to show that the mandate given to him in the 2022 governorship election was not a mistake.