June 12: Yoruba Community In Benue Commends Buhari Over M.K.O
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From Msughshima Andrew, Makurdi
The Secretary General of Yoruba Community in Benue State, Hon. Steve Alademehin has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the posthusmus award on M.k.O Abiola describing it as an award to democracy.
Mr Steve who spoke to our correspondent on phone in Makurdi said it is long over due but is a welcome development.
“It is an award for democracy. Abiola could have been a Tiv man or an Igbo man, he could have been from any part of Nigeria. That injustice was meted out on him and the man paid a supreme Price with his life.
“So Buhari’s declaration of June 12 is not an award to the Yoruba people but a plus to democracy.
He expressed disagree with some members of the public who are sayjng the award is to get the sympathy of the Yoruba people to sway their votes in his favour come 2019 general elections.
He said whether the president is looking for sympathy votes in the forth coming general elections or not, “any leader who does well, be it the president, governor, senator, House of Reps or chairman, the Yorubas are ready to vote for the person.
Alademehin said the Yorubas do not believe in bribery but is ready to vote anyone who does well irrespective of their tribe.
Also speaking, a Yoruba Business man in makurdi, Mr Taiwo Agboola acknowledged the award as a welcome development.
“People think he is using it for politics but wven if it is true, it is a good one. In politics, what ever you can do to make the people happy, it is a very good idea.
“For what he has done now concerning the June 12, I can vote for President Buhari twenty more times because I am very happy.
He called on his Yoruba brethren to forgot about their hurts and sentiments and support the president saying it is the right way to play politics.
On payment of all entitlement to Abiola’s family from 1993 to date, Abgoola said he supports the suggestion saying the money will not be too much and would not in any way impoverish the Nigerian economy.
He however called the President to do all he can to stop the killings in the country and in Benue in particular.
Agboola who has stayed in Benue for over 20 years regretted the killings in state saying it was a pity and very unfortunate incidence never witnessed in the state before.
He also urged Benue people not to use the killings against President Buhari but to vote for him come 2019 saying “I see the killings as political. The killings are not from Buhari. He means well for Nigeria and Benue state as well”.
