Why Tinubu should recognise Abiola as former president — Orji Kalu

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission (SEDC), Senator Orji Kalu (APC, Abia North), has urged President Bola Tinubu to posthumously swear in Chief Moshood Abiola as the duly elected President of the June 12, 1993, election. He also called for the inclusion of Abiola’s presidential portrait alongside Nigeria’s past leaders.

“Since Abiola won, his picture should be placed among Nigeria’s past presidents. I commend former President Buhari for giving him a posthumous national honor, but I would also appeal to President Tinubu to officially recognize him and place his image where it belongs. This would help bring closure to his family.”

He further stated that such recognition would heal and compensate the Abiola family and the nation from the electoral tragedy of 1993.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, the former Abia State Governor called on former Military President Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida to name the key actors behind the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely regarded as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history.

“I look forward to the second edition of Babangida’s book because the first did not reveal all the realities. I was present during the events of June 12, and I know what happened. Babangida should call out the names of those responsible for preventing the election declaration. The coup in question was not an Igbo coup; it was a Nigerian coup, executed by the military. Moshood Abiola won that election, and there is no doubt about it.”