Buhari Must Declare Dec 31 ‘Democracy Destruction Day’ For His 1983 Coup – Senator

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of Abia South has called for the declaration of December 31 as ‘Democracy Destruction Day’ to mark President Muhammadu Buhari’s alleged 1983 coup.

Abaribe, who is a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), urged President Buhari to set out that day for the country to remember his alleged overthrow of a sitting government and destruction of the country’s democracy.

The senator made the suggestion during Senate’s Thursday plenary where the declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day by the president was raised.

Recall that President Buhari had conferred late Chief Moshood Abiola with posthumous GCFR honours in recognition for his presumed victory at the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

The lawmakers called for an amendment of the National Honours Act to allow for the conferment of national honours on the dead, as the president has ”jumped the gun” to bestow same on late Abiola.

Abaribe said during the Senate plenary, “I support what Senator Olujimi and also what the Deputy Senate President had said, insisting that there may have to be an amendment of the constitution.

“I also want to add that it would also be necessary for the Executive to quickly bring to the National Assembly, an amendment to the Honours Act which states that there cannot be a posthumous award. Now that they have jumped the gun to do posthumous award, it would be necessary for us to quickly amend that act.

“Finally, I want to also propose another day since we are now moving in the right direction, saying that democracy is needed, I want to propose that we also designate 31st December as Democracy Destruction Day because that was the day that this same president did a coup.”