BREAKING: Abiola’s Family Writes Buhari Over GCFR Award, June 12
The Abiola family has written to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for awarding the nation’s highest honour to their patriarch, MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the 1993 June 12 presidential election.
Mr Buhari announced the award on Wednesday and also declared June 12 as democracy day starting from 2019, shifting the date from May 29.
The decision has drawn mixed reactions from Nigerians. Mr Buhari also honoured late activist, Gani Fawehinmi, and Mr Abiola’s vice presidential candidate, Babagana Kingibe.
In a letter to the president, dated June 6, 2018, Mr Abiola’s son, Kola, said he was appreciating the decision on behalf of the family.
“Your Excellency, as I wrote in my letter to you on June 12, 2016, in our minds, the award was the only befitting recognition of the importance of Chief Abiola’s fight for democracy for Nigeria which culminated in 4 years incarceration/solitary confinement and decimation of his business and financial interests, before the ultimate sacrifice, being his life on July 7, 1998 at the age of 60,” he wrote.
“Your Excellency, your decision to also designate June 12 as Democracy Day rights the wrongs done to all the nation-builders and heroes that produced that produced the democratic credentials on which the Nigerian polity now thrives. We are profoundly grateful to the people from all corners of Nigeria that worked tirelessly to ensure the most free and fair elections in our nation’s history in 1993, fought valiantly for the Hope ’93 mandate given to Bashorun Abiola by the Nigerian people and died trying to protect the mandate.”
“Mr President, I thank you earnestly for heeding our plea where others before you did not, whilst conveying the assurances of my highest esteem.”
l joined the family of late Chief MKO Abiola with millions of patriotic Nigerians for the award and the change of democracy date and day from 29th day of May to 12th day of June. Lt most welcomed and commendable though it was a bit belated. Gradually Nigeria and its citizens will see the light after the tunnel some days to come. This is just the beginning of good things to come
The light at the end of the tunnel maybe another train coming at you. #GreekGift
This is a welcome development , I added my voice to that of the family of Chief MKO Abiola in thanking the President ,We appreciate you Sir What The PDP government could not do for sixteen years the APC government did it iin less than 4years . I want to use this medium to appeal to the President to consider re naming the Abuja National Stadium after MKO He was a Pilar of sport in Africa and the chairman of found raising committee for the building of the National stadium . I remembered why we were in Egypt Cairo in Dec. 1992 he visited the Arab contractor and inspected the stadium built by them in comparison to the one to be built in Nigeria I also Congratulate the Asiwaju Senator Armed Tinumbu snd other Youruba leader for their tiredness effort in making the award and recognition of Chief MKO Abiola a reality President Buhari has honour democracy in Nigeria God Bless Nigeria