Name National Stadium after Abiola—Adeyemi

President Muhammadu Buhari has been called upon to name one of the national stadia in Lagos or Abuja after the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late Chief MKO Abiola, in recognition of his sacrifice for the enthronement of modern democracy. This appeal was made by Senator Smart Adeyemi who represented Kogi-West Senatorial District in the Seventh Assembly.

He commended Buhari for “the courage to award Abiola with the national honour of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) and the declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day.”

Senator Adeyemi said if Buhari named one of the stadia after Abiola, it would be important to erect a plaque in the stadium where the list of over a hundred Nigerians living and dead as a result of the long struggle after the annulment of June 12, 1993 election, would be engraved.

“When we write the political history of democracy in Nigeria, the name of Buhari will be significant in it,” the senator said, adding that “Buhari’s action has brought to life the stanza of the National Anthem which says, ‘the labour of our heroes past shall not be in vain.’

“With the national honour for MKO and the declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day, the spirit of Abiola and those of other prodemocracy activists who lost their lives or were persecuted during the struggle can now rest,” he said.