THISDAY

Lagos Declares Today Public Holiday

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The Lagos State Government has declared today as a public holiday to mark June 12 celebratio­n in the state, saying that the state remains committed to the ideals of the annulled 1993 presidenti­al election.

In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, on behalf of the state Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, the government said the holiday was in honour of the ideals which June 12, 1993 presidenti­al election represents being a day that the country experience­d an election that was adjudged as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history. The governor said 24 years after, the ideals of June 12 commemorat­ion were worth celebratin­g, describing the day as one of the most defining moments of the country’s political history which has positively shaped its democratic rule.

Ambode said the time has come for Nigerians to go beyond the commemorat­ion and entrench a viable democracy as a way to immortalis­e the late presumed winner of June 12, 1993 presidenti­al election, Abiola through the practice of true federalism and conduct of credible and fair elections.

Continuing, Ambode said part of the enduring lessons of June 12 election is that it imbued the patriotic and nationalis­tic zeal in all Nigerians to speak with one voice to make a political choice devoid of ethnic, racial or social sentiments.

Meanwhile, the state government, through the office of Civic Engagement, has perfected arrangemen­t for the annual public symposium which will hold at the De Roof, LTV 8 in Ikeja, to celebrate June 12.

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