June 12: Why Buhari must declare Dec 31 Democracy Destruction Day – Senator Abaribe

The Senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to declare December 31 as Democracy Destruction Day to mark the coup he led to end Nigeria’s Second Republic in 1983.
Abaribe made the remark during Thursday senate plenary.

Buhari as a Major-General on December 31, 1983 led a group of senior army officers to overthrow the democratically elected government of President Shehu Shagari. He was appointed Head of State by the alleged conspirators.

But Abaribe, while speaking stated that December 31, 1983 just as June 12 is significant enough to mark the day democracy was destroyed in Nigeria.

“I support what Senator Olujimi and also what the Deputy Senate President had said, insisting that there may have to be an amendment of the constitution.

“I also want to add that it would also be necessary for the Executive to quickly bring to the National Assembly, an amendment to the Honours Act which states that there cannot be posthumous award.

” Now that they have jumped the gun to do posthumous award, it would be necessary for us to quickly amend that act.

“Finally, I want to also propose another day since we are now moving in the right direction, saying that democracy is needed, I want to propose that we also designate 31st December as Democracy Destruction Day because that was the day that this same president did a coup.”

Abaribe, however was cut short by his colleague, Barau Jibrin (Kano-APC), who called the senate’s attention on the need to end the discussion.

Download Edujandon.com News App QR-Code

Edujandon.com - 24/7 News Upda

Developer: Edujandon Enterprises

Price: Free