President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, 10th. June 2019 assented to the Public Holiday Act Amendment Bill, making June 12 Democracy Day in Nigeria and a public holiday. According to the Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on National Assembly Matters, Ita Enang, the amendment of the Public Holiday Act removes May 29 as a public holiday.
It will be recalled that on 6th June 2018, President Buhari declared June 12 as the new date to mark Democracy Day in commemoration of the election of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola as President of Nigeria on 12th June 1993, which election was annulled by ex-military dictator, General Ibrahim Babangida. Immortalising Chief Abiola and the underlying significance of the June 12 elections, President Buhari conferred the late Abiola with a posthumous award of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), the highest national honour in the land, while conferring on his running mate, Baba Gana Kingibe the award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). However, there are still calls from some quarters for President Buhari to take a step further and recognise Chief Abiola as a former President of Nigeria for the records.