The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ndubuisi Kanu

  • June 12: OPC, Pro-democracy activists demand for restructuring

    Senator Shehu Sani, NADECO chieftain Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Are Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba Gani Adams, and other Pro-democracy activists on Tuesday restated their demand for restructuring of the polity.

    They said the gains of the democratic struggle in Nigeria would be incomplete until the nation is restructured to allow all component parts of the country be in full control of its resources.

    They also demanded the full declaration of the results of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, to remove the cloud of uncertainty over the actual winner, as well as turning Abiola’s  residence into a national monument and a presidential library.

    Leading the call, Sen. Shehu Sani, said restructuring would allow the crystallisation of the gains of the June 12, which according to him was the watershed in the nation’s political struggle.

    Sani who had earlier expressed his profound appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for his courage in recognising June 12 as “the authentic democracy day” and honouring Chief MKO Abiola with the highest honour of GCFR.

    “By that singular honour President Buhari has unofficially recognised Abiola as the winner of that election, what remains is for him to give an executive order directing the then National Electoral Commission Chairman Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, to officially declare the rest of the suspended result and declare the late Abiola winner of the election so that we can move on as a nation.”

    He said while the movement acknowledged the courage behind the preside it’s gesture, they however reject in its entirety any attempt to use it to score any cheap political point ahead of next year poll.

    Read Also: Buhari apologises over June 12 poll annulment

    “Mr President, we accept the gift which is coming 25 years after that election, but reject any intended political motive it especially if it is a solicitation for votes.”

    He said in his attempt to correct the errors of the past, the President inadvertently has recognised traitors of the June 12 struggle, adding that the real heroes of democracy would resist any attempt by such men to rewrite history.

    Speaking on the symbolism of the June 12, Sani said though its annulment prevented Nigerians from benefitting from the genuine intention to correct its errors, by calling on the President to put an end to senseless politically motivated killings across the country and be more dogged in his anti-corruption crusade.

    The National Coordinator of the Oodu People’s Congress Are Gani Adams said the recognition of June 12 and posthumous awards bequeathed to Abiola is as a result of the dogged struggle of pro-democratic activists, especially men of the OPC who resisted the injustice that the annulment represented.

    He said: “Today, through the awards bequeathed to heroes of our Democratic struggle, we have silenced the voices of evil and their machinations on the country.

    The Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists Lagos State Chapter, Dr Quasim Akinreti lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his courageous deed, and urged him to declare the late hero as the authentic winner of the June 12 election.

    Rear Admiral Ndubusi Kanu described the declaration last Wednesday by President Muhammadu Buhari as the game changer adding that those who are criticising the declaration are the real enemies of the nation’s tortuous democratic struggle.

    Hr called for an end to the mindless killings going on in the country as well as restructuring that would give full autonomy to component units of the country.

    Convener of Women Arise Dr Joe Okei Odumakin said though she got her invitation to be at the villa, she had decided to cancel her appearance to be at this year’s event.

    She however lauded the recognition of June 12 as Nigerias democracy day and the recent signing of the Not too young to run bill by the president as a step in the right direction.

    The guest lecturer, Prof Derin Ologbenla said since the intervention of the military in Nigeria’s democratic journey, there has been a deliberate play up of ethnicity and religion to divide the country.

    He charged all politicians to learn how Abiola won massively in 1993 and adopt his mandate to pull the nation away from the slide to poverty.

    The highpoint of the event was present station of award to 21 pro-democracy activists who have contributed immensely to the sustenance of the struggle over the last 18 years.

    Among those who were presented awards for their dedication to the struggle are; Dr Joe Okei Odumakin, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum leader Alhaji Yerima Shetima, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, (Rtd) Comrade Joseph Evah Comrade Ayodele Akele, Prof Sophie Oluwole and Publicity Secretary of the Afenifere Yinka Odumakin.

    Others are; Kudirat Abiola Initiative for Democracy (KIND), OPC Secretary General Barr Segun Babajide, Dr Jide Rotilu, Prof Charles Alade, Dr Tony Uranta, Dr Amos Akingba, Prof Tunde Babawale, Prof Derin Ologbenla, and Prof Bayo Lawal.

    Others are Prof Orimogunje, Prof Chidozie Okoro, Prof Wale Ogundowole, Send Shuhu Sani, and the NUJ Lagos Chairman Dr Quasim Akinreti.

  • Allow independent candidacy, says Ndubuisi Kanu

    Former military administrator of Lagos State Rear Admiral Kanu Ndubuisi has advocated for independent candidacy in subsequent elections.

    He observed that the electorate voted for individuals and not political parties in the last election and urged parties to begin to field credible candidates

    He spoke at a summit, “Revolution through the Ballot Box”, organised by the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

    He was represented by the Director-General of the Nigeria Institute International Affairs (NIIA), Prof Bola Akinterinwa.

    Speaking on “Ideology and Non-Ideology, Mapping the Genotype of this Generation of Nigerian Politicians”, Prof Akinterinwa regretted that party politics are no longer based on ideology.

    He said: “The country needs ideology to move forward. Subsequent elections should allow independent candidates to contest. When you belong to a party, you will be forced to do the bidding of the party. But when you stand alone, you have the courage to carry out your good plans without any interference.

    “A good number of the electorate voted for individuals not parties in the last election. If parties would want to win elections, they should begin to look for people of integrity to be their candidates.”

    UPN’s National Chairman Frederick Fasehun, in his welcome speech, decried the happenings in the country.

    “Nigerians have gone through various regimes of mutual distrust, civilian, military, liberal militocracy and totalitarian dictatorship.

    “The times through which we have passed through have not encouraged us to hope and pray. But against all hope, we shall go on hoping and praying, in strong belief that one day, our children will live in peace and harmony, sharing a nation in which beauty flows all around.”

  • June 12: Lagos names park after Ndubuisi Kanu

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), on Thursday commissioned and named a newly built recreational park after a former Military Administrator of the state, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu for his contribution to the June 12 struggle.

    Fashola said the government chose the 21st anniversary of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, a very symbolic date in the annals of the nation’s road to democracy, to commission the park, albeit lamenting that some agents working against democracy are still very much around, and are manifesting their uncontrollable effort as election approaches in Ekiti.

    He said Kanu, whom the park is named after, was one of the many Nigerians that stood up for what is right during the June 12 struggle.

    According to him, “There is no occasion of June 12 that he (Kanu) did not participate, he stood for June 12 and he stood to restore democracy.”

    Fashola charged all public office holders across the country to remember that if those who stood up for democracy did not do so, perhaps they would not have had the opportunity to serve in the positions they hold in public trust.

    Responding, Kanu expressed gratitude to the government for the gesture, charging all those that will use the park to keep in mind the need to stand for what is right at all time.

    He called on Nigerians to pursue the objective of June 12 struggle, saying the country would have been better positioned if the election was not annulled.

    “There is more reason to pursue the tenets of the struggle, more reason to put this country where it should be.”

    Earlier, the state Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, said the park was situated in Alausa to further enhance the greening culture the area is known for in the last 25 years.

    “For many, it is a citadel of relaxation, family retreats, friendship reunion, children’s excursion, a remarkable ground for all festivities and a place for individual relaxations and renewal,” Bello stated.

     

  • Low-key 70th birthday for Ndubuisi Kanu

    Low-key 70th birthday for Ndubuisi Kanu

    How do you know the quintessential gentleman? One of the ways is to check and analyse his lifestyle, family, friends and associates as well as the kind of people he surrounds himself with. Those are some of the yardsticks that have distinguished Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu.

    It was payback time for the former military administrator of Lagos State as family and friends rallied around him last Sunday to make his 70th birthday a memorable one. He marked the day with a family harvest and birthday thanksgiving at the Methodist Cathedral, Tinubu Square, Lagos. This was later followed with a breakfast.

    His wife, Gladys, was in her elements, radiating beauty.