TAIWO FAROTIMI
His has not been the only dissenting voice, but as a candidate at the historic June 12, 1993 election he bears a unique weight. Bashir Tofa, presidential candidate of the opposition National Republican Convention, NRC does not believe that the designation of June 12 as Democracy Day is right. And the man says this is not about partisan politics. He is just convinced it is not right.
Tofa who said he had been a long time friend of Abiola , even in their days as leaders of the defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN in the second republic, said he is not opposed to Abiola being honoured.
But he wants the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to reconsider its decision to change Nigeria’s democracy day to June 12 instead of , as he said, s more appropriate date of October 1, the Independence Day. In a statement on the issue, Tofa decried what he saw as a partisan slant even in the list of honorees and invitees for the award event. He said, “I do not in any way begrudge him the posthumous honour, even when I insist that the right thing must be done at all times. Meanwhile, whatever may be the prevailing sentiment and politics in Abuja, the idea that June 12 should be the new Democracy Day is also a matter that deserves serious reconsideration. Such decisions should be beyond some political cold calculations.”
