Reps in rowdy session over June 12
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pwajok said that for the declaration of the president to take effect the public holidays act had to be amended1 lawmakers in the house of representatives on thursday were divided over the declaration of june 12 as national democracy day by president muhammadu buhari1 buhari had on wednesday declared june 12 as national democracy day with effect from 20191 buhari also said that the presumed winner of the june 12 1993 election chief moshood abiola would posthumously be awarded the highest award of the land grand commander of the federal republic gcfr1 he added that abiolas running mate in the election amb. babagana kingibe and late human rights lawyer gani fayehinmi san would be vested with grand commander of the niger gcon1 moving the motion raji called on the independent national electoral commission inec to release the result of the 1993 election and declare moshood abiola president-elect1 raji said that the 1993 presidential election was widely acclaimed as the freest fairest and most credible election in the nations history1 he lamented that the result of the election was however annulled by the then military head of state gen. ibrahim babangida1 according to him since the return of democracy in 1999 successive governments had failed to recognise june 12 as national democracy day1 he urged the house to commend buhari for the courageous step adding that it was a sign that he listened to the voice of the people1 also rep. chris azubogu pdp-anambra commended the mover of the motion saying that it was a worthy initiative1 he however drew the attention of the house to the exclusion of the electoral umpire mr humphrey nwosu who conducted the election from the list of those honoured1 azubogu said that nwosu was a key actor in the june 12 election and risked his life to conduct a free and fair election1 he said that nwosu should be given due recognition for the role he played in the election as it would encourage future umpires of the electoral process to be free and fair1 in his contribution rep. edward pwajok apc-plateau drew the attention of the house to the public holidays act which stated that may 29 should be recognised as national democracy day1 the division followed a motion by rep. wale raji apc-lagos brought under urgent matter of national importance on the need to commend buhari for the june 12 democracy day initiative at the plenary1 he said that for a contestant to be referred to as president-elect he had to be declared winner of the election by the national returning officer1 pwajok a senior advocate of nigeria san also said that there was a court order prohibiting inec from releasing the result1 he explained that until the courts decision was stepped down by the same court or a higher court the decision remained1 in his contributions rep. mojeed alabi apc-osun said that there would have been no may 29 1999 without june 12 19931 he said that prior to the presidential declaration only osun recognised june 12 as democracy day1 alabi commended buhari and urged the house to support the motion1 a rowdy session however erupted in the chamber when rep. nicholas ossai pdp-delta challenged the presidential declaration1 he said that the usurpation of the powers of the legislature by the executive was becoming too rampant.ossai argued that an act of parliament could not be changed by a presidential declaration and that if june 12 must stand it should follow due process of amendment of the public holidays act1 members roared in disapproval and tried to shut him up while others waved at him to sit down1 supporting him rep. toby okechukwu pdp-enugu said that the country must be ruled by law and not by persons or groups1 he said though the intention of the president was good the declaration needed to be guided by the law explaining that it was necessary so that nobody would in the future challenge the honour to abiola1 after he spoke the rowdiness in the chamber became intense and members left their seats to engage one another in shouting matches1 this lasted for over 20 minutes and when the speaker of the house mr yakubu dogara restored order he referred the motion to the committees on justice and rules and business for further consultation1 he mandated the committees to look into the matter and make recommendations to the house before a decision would be taken. nan1