Mr Oladipupu Adebutu, formal Ogun governorship aspirant has described selfish and self-serving leaders as the problem of democracy, saying the path of true democracy as entrenched during June12, 1993 presidential election has been redirected.
Adebutu spoke in Abeokuta at the maiden edition of commemorative lecture to mark June 12 Democracy Day, a programme organised by Ladi Adebutu Development Organization.
The lecture was titled “June 12: The Yoruba Race In A Reunited Nigeria.”
The two – timer House of Representatives member described the June 12 election believed to have been won by MKO Abiola as a watershed which brought true democracy to Nigeria.
Adebutu, son of the business mogul and philanthropist, Sir Keshinton Adebutu, argued that apart from the 1993 election, subsequent polls were marred with violence, killing and “brazen cheating.”
He asked Nigerians to resist attempt by “self – serving leaders” to perpetually hijack their common heritage.
The former PDP governorship aspirant bemoaned disunity among Yoruba leaders and called for concerted efforts to ensure leaders unite and speak in one voice in the interest of the country.
He said “June 12 means alot to Nigerians and that was why we are celebrating it today. It is a watershed that I will never forget.
“The efforts MKO Abiola made in uniting all tribes can not be undermined. He sacrificed for the people.
“Where are we today, progressively in 1992, I will say we have gradually gone down. Every electioneering process has always given way for tragedy. No regard for human life in the current administration.”
On Yoruba’s disunity, Adebutu said “We must ask ourselves as a Yoruba people, where do we go from here? where there is no unity among us. We are sinking like a sheep without Shepherd. We are sinking like people without direction.”
In his remarks, a PDP Chieftain, Dr Doyin Okupe said President Muhammadu Buhari was well – placed to honour MKO Abiola than any past President.
“There is no better person, there is no better government that can institutionalise June 12 except government headed by a strong northern otherwise it will create serious controversy.
“Buhari by providence has been well – placed. He is not just an ordinary northern, a very strong one that a lot of northern have respect for, that even if they disagree (with him) they will not vent their disagreement. They will hold their peace,” Okupe said.
Delivering his paper on the theme, a Mass Communication lecturer, Dr. Goke Rauf , called on the Yoruba people across Nigeria to be united in the interest of national unity.
Rauf noted that the need for the unity was a principle of “charity begins at home” as disunited group of people can not exemplify unity at the National Front.
The lecture was well – attended by PDP leaders and chieftains across the state.
