By Charles Akinbode
The Osun State Government has invited members of the public to this year edition of the June 12 Democracy Day lecture.
The pioneer Vice Chancellor of the Osun State University, Prof. Sola Akinrinade, will deliver a guest lecture titled “June 12, Twenty Nine Years After, Interrogating Nigeria’s Democracy in the 4th Republic, Osun State in Perspective” and the event will be chaired by a legal luminary, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN).
While the state governor, Mr. Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola, is expected at the annual public lecture as the Chief Host, the Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Omowonuola Oyeyode Oyesosin, will be the Royal Father of the Day.
The Day’s celebration, which is in collaboration with the Civil Societies Group in the state, will hold at the Aurora Events Center, Ring Road, Osogbo, the state capital.
Members of the public are expected to join a procession by members of the civil societies coalition, according to a statement by the state Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Engr. Olalekan Abdulrahman Badmus.
In the statement, Badmus recalled that the Osun State government started observing June 12 as Democracy Day before the Federal Government declared it a national holiday in honour of Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the annuled June 12, 1993 presidential election.
“The Adegboyega Oyetola administration will continue to deliver on its mandate to the people and in addition will continue to encourage all and sundry to promote democratic ideals aimed at deepening civil rule in Nigeria,” the statement read in part.