Nigerians Have Recognised Abiola As ‘Elected President’ Since 1993, Says Falana

Nigerians Have Recognised Abiola As ‘Elected President’ Since 1993, Says Falana

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has stated that Nigerians have long recognized the late MKO Abiola as a former president of the country.

Abiola won the 1993 presidential election, which was annulled by then-military president Ibrahim Babangida.

Thirty years after the election, Babangida acknowledged during the launch of his memoir that Abiola had indeed won the election but that it was annulled in the “national interest.”

Following Babangida’s admission, there have been calls for President Bola Tinubu to officially recognize Abiola, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, as a former president. However, Falana argued that Nigerians have already given Abiola this recognition.

“Since 1993, he has been recognized by the people of Nigeria as an elected president,” Falana said. “Those who are just beginning to acknowledge this now are trying to turn back time.”

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has recently joined the growing calls for the Nigerian government to officially recognize Abiola as a former president.

“Yes, Abiola won the election. I will say President Tinubu should declare him a president posthumously,” Kalu, representing Abia North, said on Tuesday before the start of plenary.

Kalu also suggested that Abiola’s portrait should be displayed alongside those of other past presidents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

“Since Abiola won, his picture should be placed among Nigeria’s past presidents,” Kalu added. “I commend former President Buhari for awarding 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 comfort to his family.”

In 2018, former President Muhammadu Buhari awarded Abiola the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) honor.

Buhari also awarded the Grand Commander of the Niger (GCON) title to Abiola’s running mate, Baba Gana Kingibe, and moved the Democracy Day celebration from May 29th to June 12th, the date of the election Abiola won, to honor the late SDP leader.

“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 at the time.