Underscoring the significance of Nigeria’s 27th year of unbroken civilian rule, the senator representing Edo Central senatorial district of Edo State, Joseph Ikpea, on Friday enjoined Nigerians to work together to sustain the democracy that people like late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, his late wife, Kudirat, and several other people either died for, or incapacitated for life.
In his message to Nigerians and Edo people on the occasion of the 2026 June 12 Democracy Day, contained in a personally signed statement made available to journalists in Benin City, Senator Ikpea also called for support and collaboration with the federal government and other state governments in their efforts to check insecurity in the country.
He particularly called on the people of his Edo Central constituency to own their security and compliment whatever the government is doing.
Celebrating late Abiola, the winner of the June 12,1993 presidential election and towering symbol of our democracy, Senator Ikpea called for peace, unity and patriotism as Nigeria honours his memory.
Recall that the June 12,1993 election, adjudged the most credible, freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history, was annulled by the then military President, General Ibrahim Babangida and the then presumed winner, MKO Abiola, arrested and died in detention. His wife, Kudirat Olayinka Abiola, who fought courageously alongside him, was assassinated on the street of Lagos on June 4, 1996, while her husband was still in detention. Abiola died July 7, 1998.
On the 2027 general elections, Senator Ikpea said there was need to consolidate on the pro-people interventions of Governor Monday Okpebholo who was the senator representing the district before he became the governor of the state.
Part of the statement reads: “Today is a day that we cannot joke with in the democratic history of Nigeria. We must work together to sustain the democracy that people like Chief MKO Abiola, his late wife, Kudirat, and several other people died for. Several others incapacitated for life.
“Nigeria is going through trying times in the area of security but it is obvious that the federal government, the state, under the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebholo, are doing so much to check insecurity. These efforts should be supported by all of us.”
