President Muhammadu Buhari today in Abuja officially confers on Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola posthumous award of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) thereby affirming that he won the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
The award was received on behalf of the late business mogul eldest son, Kola Abiola. The President also awarded his then running mate, Babagana Kingibe and late human rights activist and senior lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON)
President Buhari on behalf of the Federal Government also apologized to the Abiola family for the ills done to him.
“On behalf of the Federal Government, I tender the nation’s apology to the family of late MKO Abiola, who got the highest vote [in the election], and to those that lost their loved ones in the course of the June 12 struggle,” President Buhari said before getting guests to observe a minute’s silence in honour of those who died.
“We cannot rewind the past but we can at least assuage our feelings, recognise that a wrong has been committed and resolve to stand firm now and ease the future for the sanctity of free elections,” he said.
“Nigerians will no longer tolerate such perversion of justice. This retrospective and posthumous recognition is only a symbolic token of redress and recompense for the grievous injury done to the peace and unity of our country.”
“Our action today is to bury the negative side of June 12 – side of ill-feelings, hate, frustration, and agony. What we are doing today is celebrating the positive side of June 12,” he said.
The event was attended by prominent personalities including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, governors of Kogi, Kano, Kebbi, Kwara, Benue, Nasarawa, Jigawa and several Ministers, SGF, renowned journalists and many others
