Declare Abiola, ex-President, Activists, others tell Tinubu
Human Rights and pro-democracy activists and followers of late Chief MKO Abiola, on Wednesday appealed to President Bola Tinubu to declare Abiola winner of the June 12 1993 Presidential Election to heal wounds.
They spoke at the 2024 memorial programme for the commemoration of June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, which was annulled by the then military junta, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (IBB).
The event was organised by the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) in collaboration with the Centre for Anti Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) and Moshood Abiola Mandate Movement.
The organisers also included the Civil Societies and the Coalition of Pro-Democracy Groups for A Better Nigeria was
They gathered inside MKO Abiola House, Off Toyin Street, Ikeja to pay tributes to the late hero of Nigeria’s democracy and philanthropist
Speaking, Mr Debo Adeniran, the National President, CDHR said that Tinubu, being an insider in the struggle for democracy that Abiola sacrificed his life must complete the process of Abiola ‘s recognising by declaring him the winner.
*Asiwaju must declare him (Abiola) as a former President and June 12 as Bashorun MKO Abiola Day,” Adediran said.
Describing Abiola as a pillar of trust in Africa and democracy in Nigeria, the activists said that late business mogul was passion about true democracy that would put an end to poverty and hunger of the masses.
Noting that Abiola was betrayed, Adediran said that the activists believed strongly in him.
“His farewell to poverty made us to believe him. He had been doing this before throwing his hat into the ring.
“MKO was an indiscriminate philanthropist all over the world. Giving was his second name,” he said.
According to him, the event was aimed at drawing attention of the government and other stakeholders to the need to respect and defend human and political rights of the citizenry and uphold the tenets of free and fair elections.
Corroborating, Mr Babatunde Ogun, former President of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), said that late Abiola and other leaders dead or alive paid darely for the democracy.
“Some of us paid darely for what we believe in. Abiola had serious passion for Nigeria, believing that Africa nations can do better.
“Those who are governing us must go back to those his philosophies. In the last 25 years, we have had than that. We want to see Nigeria progressing.
He said that there was no way the government could get productivity out of its workers if they were not well paid.
Alhaja Aminat Irawo, President/Founder, th June 12 Renewed Hope and one of the organisers of the event said that President Tinubu needed to pacified the activist for democracy by formally declaring Abiola as ex-President.
Irawo said: “Democracy Day is a special day, Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu must please announce MKO Abiola as the winner of the Hope 1993 Presidential Election that was annulled.
“Gen. Ibrahim Gbadamosi Babangida (IBB), who superintendent over the election is alive and he has confirmed it that MKO Abiola won the election.
“To heal all the human rights wounds, President Bola Tinubu must declare Abiola as the winner and former President posthumously.”
She appreciated former President Muhammadu Buhari for conferring the higher honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Abiola and declaring June 12 as Democracy Day Instead of May 29.
Also, the National Coordinator of the Coalition of Pro-Democracy for a Better Nigeria, Comrade Awa Bamiji, said that Abiola died for the nation, and deserved better recognition.
AWA said that Abiola’s family deserved all recognitions due for families of other former presidents.
Earlier, Mrs Lola Abiola -Edewor, the first daughter of late Abiola described June 12 as special day and 31st anniversary as more special because Nigeria was celebrating 25 years of interrupted democracy.
Abiola-Edewor commended all the activists and patriots for keeping faith with the ideal of her late father, and remembering him with love and passion.
He said that his late father’s life was all about giving hope to the masses and using political power to end their sufferings and hardship.
“We thank God that President Tinubu also believes in him (Abiola) and chose his mantra “Renewed Hope Agenda” from Abiola’s Hope 1993.
“I believe that this mantra reflects those promises that my father stood for.
“I want to enjoin President Tinubu that we are looking forward to seeing the renewed hope.”
The activists laid a wreath at the tomb of Abiola in his residence in Ikeja.
