Fight For Freedom From Dictatorship: Nigeria Remembers Dangiwa, Honours Him
By PHC Telegraph
The audience which gathered Thursday in Kaduna to listen to President Bola Tinubu and watch him commission projects did not see it coming.
It is doubt that Governor Umar Sani, host to the President new what his guest was about to say.
“Let me use this opportunity to correct an omission”, the President declared when it was his turn to speak, “Some of those people that I missed out on during the June 12 broadcast at the National Assembly is Colonel Dangiwa.
“Today, let me correct that (omission) by honouring him with national recognition of CFR”, President Tinubu remarked.
The crowd cheered and clapped even as Tinubu acknowledged Senator Shehu Sani, describing the former political prisoner as a great leader that he would love to work with.
President Tinubu recalled Dangiwa Umar’s courageous defence of democratic values after the June 12 elections, much to the admiration of prominent leaders of Kaduna State, saying that he has been conferred with the national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR).
The retired Colonel, a former Military Governor despite the risk to his life pushed for the actualisation of the June 12 election under the ill-fated Abacha regime.
He was detained by the military for his views in support of the victory of Chief MKO Abiola and later resigned his commission in favour of civic activism.
Tinubu was in Kaduna State on a working visit. While there, he commissioned a number of development projects built by the Kaduna State Government.
He also commissioned 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to boost the state’s public transportation system.
The former military governor is credited with founding a political party, the Movement for Unity and Progress.
In honouring Col. Umar, President Tinubu said the recognition reflects a national consensus on the significance of those who stood on the side of democracy during Nigeria’s most uncertain moments. .
The President was however full of praise for Governor Umar Sani in respect of his accomplishments, especially his restoration of peace to Kaduna State.
He referred to him as a bridge builder and a unifier whose reign has brought the people of the State under one roof.
Earlier, one-time Vice President Sambo had appealed to the visiting President to take up the completion of an abandoned power plant, saying the project has the potential to enhance energy supply.
Sambo added that if there is anyone who can solve Nigeria’s energy problem, that person is Tinubu.
Also speaking, the Governor of Kaduna State seized the opportunity to laud the President for the ongoing economic reforms and the tremendous support that he has given to his administration, particularly in the area of guaranteeing security.