June 12: Abiola’s family patriarch to Buhari: Recognize him as ex-President

Per Second NewsJune 12, 20201 Mins read1.1k

Twenty-two years after the annulment of his electoral mandate, Chief MKO Abiola’s family has demanded the de-annulment of the June 12 Presidential poll and the official recognition of Abiola as Nigeria’s ex-President.

They said the recognition of Abiola would enable Nigerian leaders to “rule in peace”.

The family head, Chief Olanrewaju Abiola, said in Abeokuta, the countryhome of the late Abiola thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for recognising June 12 as Nigeria’s “Democracy Day” as against May 29 inauguration date hitherto observed since 1999 when the country returned to democracy.Persecondnews recalls that Abiola, who was believed to have won the elections adjudged as free and fair, was denied his mandate as the results were annulled by the Head of military government, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, his friend.

He was arrested and detained after he declared himself President at Epetedo area of Lagos island by another Head of the junta, the late Gen. Sani Abacha.

Abiola died on July 7, 1998 in government custody in Abuja under mysterious circumstances.

The family also thanked Buhari for conferring a posthumous highest national honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Abiola.

” l urge the President to actualise the mandate that Nigerians gave to my late junior brother, Moshood, on June 12, 1993, by conferring an official status of an ex-president of the nation on him.
“I also demand that all the entitlements that should have accrued to my late brother from 1993 to date should be fully paid to the family,” Abiola senior said.

He called on Buhari to initiate a bill to that effect and send to the National Assembly.

The patriach said: “On June 12 last year when I spoke with the President, he said he has given him the honour, but we want it in black and white.
“Let the members of the National Assembly debate it and pass it into law.”