By Group That Canvassed Cancellation Of June 12 Election Not Registered With Corporate Affairs Commission – Ayo Opadokun
Former General Secretary of National Democratic Coalition, Chief Ayo Opadokun, has revealed that the Association for Better Nigeria (ABN) the group used to truncate Nigeria’s general election of 1993 between Chief MKO Abiola of the Socialist Democratic Party (SDP) and Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Congress (NRC) was never registered as at the time the Judiciary held a ruling in favour of the group to stop further announcement of results.
He made the revelation known at the Eko Youth Democracy Symposium with the theme; Nigeria Democracy: Youth On Call, put together by the Akanbi A. Saheed Afonja, Senior Special Assistant on Youth Development to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu held yesterday at EKO FM Multipurpose Hall, LTV 8 Ikeja, to commemorate 22 years of the annulment of the freest and fairest election in Nigeria.
Opadokun said when the Francis Arthur Nzeribe led ABN got a midnight ruling from late Justice Bassey Ikpeme of Abuja High Court, the association was not even registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission to have had the locus standi to do so, stating the military government deliberately truncated what could have been Nigeria’s part to development.
The keynote address speaker urged Eko Youth to move to organise their immediate communities “by educating, informing and conscientising them to participate in Ward political activities so they would be ready to determine those would constitute the Executive at the Ward, Local and State level. Politics is local, start getting involved, ” he said.
Speaking during his welcome address, Akanbi A. Saheed Afonja, Senior Special Assistant on Youth Development to the Lagos State Governor, appreciated the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Jagaban Borgu, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for laying the foundation and template for youth participation in Lagos politics.
“It is worthy to recall and appreciate our National Leader of the All Progressives Congress {APC}, the Jagaban Borgu, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who laid the foundation and template for youth to participate and excel in all spheres of government during his tenure as the Governor and till date. We would be forever grateful Sir, ” he said.
He went further to appreciate the Executive Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu who through his T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda has accommodated youth and also increased their standard of living through various activities.
“The T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda of the Governor which is a driving force for a greater Lagos of our dream embrace youth involvement in all spheres. Also, the Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Hon. Segun Dawodu ensures that all hands are on deck in order to not only accommodate youth but also help to increase their standard of living through various activities.
“In all, Eko YOUTH heartily expresses their profound appreciation to the Executive Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu for his commitment to take Lagos to the greatest of heights and to celebrate his laudable two years in office, ” the SSA said.
He went further to highlight the achievements of the administration to include; Annual Internship Programme for 4000 graduates, Reconstruction of Abesan Youth Centre, Construction of basketball court and upgrading of football pitch at Ikeja Youth Centre, Lagos Care program for Youth and Vulnerable, and the Renovation of Ikorodu Youth Centre.
The administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu also renovated Lafiaji Youth Centre, Lagos Island, Omituntun Playground, Akowonjo, Campus Square Recreation Center, Lagos Island amongst others.
