Kunle Adelabu
The Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, has called on Nigerians to reflect on how each and everyone has contributed to the present situation of the country.
Agunbiade, who is representing the Ikorodu Constituency I at the State Assembly, also stated that the country can only be taken to the Promiseland by its citizenry and not angels, adding that, “We can’t get it wrong, if we do it right”.
This was contained in a release by the four term lawmaker in commemoration of the June 12 anniversary which is now called ‘Democracy Day’.
The release, which was signed by the lawmaker, is tagged, “Where are the Prophets?”
“As leaders and as followers, we all need to examine how we have contributed to the present state of the country. We can’t get it wrong, if we do it right!
“We need the human Prophet that will help straighten our curves and take us through our dangerous bends in Nigeria. As the struggle and search continue, the clamour and struggle for a better Nigeria must equally continue”, he charged.
He stated that the country must remember those that sacrificed their lives; children made orphans and others that were permanently maimed by the struggle to actualize June 12.
Agunbiade also charged that every Nigerian must continue to work towards making Nigeria a greater country where citizenry would have equal opportunities.
“As we celebrate the day today, we must be asking ourselves what has become of the orphans and widows of the Matyrs of the June 12 struggles. Where are the unsung Nigerians that were permanently maimed for life?”, he asked.
“Moshood Abiola and Alhaja Kudrat Abiola, like many others, paid the supreme sacrifice with their children becoming circumstantial orphans in the struggles to actualise our quest for democratic rule in Nigeria.
“Though, our desires for freedom from the military may have been actualised, but have these incidents transformed Nigeria to the country of our dream and that of our heroes past, where every Nigerian has the same opportunities and privileges, even though our tribes and tongues differ?
“Today, I join other Nigerians, home and abroad, to commemorate yet another democracy day; to remember and appreciate our numerous past and present struggles for true democracy. Today, we must call to mind, the significance of June 12 in the democratic trajectory of Nigeria. In doing this, we must recognise the sacrifice made by individuals, some of whom are unsung heroes because they fought the battle of freedom from obscurity, and without notable head count.
“We should pray for the repose of the many souls that were condemned to untimely graves so that the popular wish of Nigerians, freely expressed across the country on June 12, 1993, could prevail for Nigeria to be extricated from the wicked clutches of the then military cabals and their heartless civilian collaborators.
“Many battles were fought and won, leaving many Nigerians as widows and orphans in the circumstance. Our streets were painted red with human blood and littered with body parts of the dead, before we could successfully push the military back to their customary place, the barracks”.
While stating that many leaders failed to recognize the ultimate prize paid by late M.K.O Abiola and other unsung heroes of June 12 struggles, he commended President Muhammadu Buhari for declaring the day as the real Democracy Day.
“After many years of waiting for someone to give June 12 and its lead hero, the late MKO Abiola, and by extension, Nigerians who sacrificed for democracy, their right place in history, with some past leaders missing the golden opportunity to etch their names in history, President Muhammed Buhari has done that by recognising the watershed in our political history as democracy day”.
