Human rights lawyer Femi Falana says Nigerians have already recognised the late MKO Abiola as a former president of the country.
Abiola won the 1993 election which was annulled by former military president Ibrahim Babangida.
Thirty years after the exercise, Babangida during the launch of his memoir admitted that Abiola indeed emerged victorious in the election but he annulled the poll due to ” national interest”.
Since Babangida’s admittance, there have been calls for President Bola Tinubu to recognise the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate as a former president of the country. But Falana argued that Abiola has since been accorded that status by Nigerians.
“Since 1993, he has been recognized by the people of Nigeria as an elected president,” Falana said on Tuesday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today. “These guys who try to set the hands of the clock back are just recognizing that now.”
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu is the latest in the list of persons to have called on the Nigerian government to recognise Abiola as a former president.
“Yes, Abiola won the election. And I will say President Tinubu should declare him a president posthumously,” Kalu representing Abia North said on Tuesday before the commencement of plenary.
He argued that Abiola’s portrait be placed alongside those of other former leaders in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“Since Abiola won, his picture should be placed among Nigeria’s past presidents,” Senator Kalu said. “I commend former President Buhari for giving him a national honor, but I also appeal to President Tinubu to officially recognize him and place his image where it belongs. This would help bring succor to his family”.
In 2018, ex-President Muhammadu Buhari conferred the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) honour on Abiola.
The former president also awarded Abiola’s running mate Baba Gana Kingibe with the Grand Commander of the Niger (GCON) title.
He also moved the Democracy Day celebration from May 29th to June 12 (the date the election won by Abiola was held) to honour the late SDP chieftain.
“June 12th, 1993 was the day when Nigerians in millions expressed their democratic will in what was undisputedly the freest, fairest and most peaceful elections since our Independence,” Buhari said then.
