Former Vice President and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar has said that June 12 presidential election and the events that brought it are part of Nigeria’s history and cannot be forgotten, especially because of the unity and comradeship displayed by Nigerians on that Election Day in 1993.

Atiku who said this in a goodwill message to all Nigerians on the occasion of the anniversary of the presidential election believed to have been won by the late businessman, philanthropist and patriot, Chief MKO Abiola in a statement released by his Media Office in Abuja, noted that the events of June 12, 1993 are a watershed in the history of the nation and therefore it behooves on all Nigerians to work hard to ensure that the nation never again repeats that painful experience.

The former Vice President described late MKO Abiola, the leading personality of the June 12 struggle as a national “Hero and Patriot” deserving of accolades and honour by Nigerians.

He calls on the Federal Government to pay the necessary tribute to the late chief Abiola of blessed memory by naming a befitting national institution after him.

Atiku Abubakar recalled that June 12 traumatized Nigerians and made some people to question the unity and oneness of the country and whether true democracy can take root in the country.

Atiku who is the Waziri Adamawa however commended Nigerians for moving beyond the challenges thrown up by June 12 and putting in place a democratic system of government that has lasted for 18 years.

He said it is a testimony to the innate democratic nature of Nigerians that today, democracy is flourishing in the country adding that restructuring of the country as being demanded by some well-meaning Nigerians would further consolidate democracy and give greater impetus to the unity and development of the country.

According to him, restructuring of the country would lay a solid foundation for prosperity and self-reliant development across the country by introducing healthy competition among the constituent parts of the Federation based on the principle of comparative advantage.