The Vice-presidential running mate to late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the June 12, 1993, presidential election, Babagana Kingibe has called on Nigerians to be inspired by Abiola’s steadfast commitment and willingness to sacrifice his life.
Kingibe made the appeal on Monday after President Bola Ahmed inspected a Guard of Honour at the Forecourt of the Presidential Villa in Abuja as part of activities scheduled to mark the 2023 Democracy Day celebration.
According to him, the nation would forever be grateful for Abiola’s sacrifices for the country’s democracy.
He urged Nigerians to be inspired by Abiola’s courage, steadfast commitment and willingness to sacrifice his life, which the country will forever be grateful for.
On the kind of nostalgia the commemoration has evoked, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) said: “Well, it always brings back very vivid memories of the whole process and sadness at the end of the process with the annulment but I think today as always, I believe in looking forward and the President in his Democracy Day address has set out the markers as to where we are coming from.
“And he has set up beacons as to the direction we should take to make our country great, to strengthen democracy and to defend democracy at all times. And I believe that his speech was really inspiring and I think all right-thinking men and women of this country should very carefully go through and be inspired by it and be guided by it. It is a great thing.” he said
