Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has stated that Nigerians have already acknowledged the late MKO Abiola as a former president, following the annulment of his 1993 election victory by then-military president Ibrahim Babangida.
Abiola, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, was widely believed to have won the June 12, 1993 elections, which were annulled by Babangida in a controversial move. Three decades later, Babangida admitted in the launch of his memoir that Abiola indeed won the election, but it was annulled for what he described as “national interest.”
Following Babangida’s admission, calls have intensified for President Bola Tinubu to officially recognize Abiola as a former president of Nigeria. However, Falana argued that Nigerians had already conferred that status upon Abiola long ago.
“Since 1993, he has been recognized by the people of Nigeria as an elected president,” Falana said in a televised interview on Tuesday. “Those now seeking to reverse history are just recognizing that now,” he added, emphasizing the public’s long-standing recognition of Abiola’s election victory.
In the latest call for Abiola’s posthumous recognition, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu also weighed in. Speaking on Tuesday, the senator representing Abia North said, “Yes, Abiola won the election, and I will say President Tinubu should declare him a president posthumously.”
Kalu went further, suggesting that Abiola’s portrait should be placed alongside those of other former Nigerian leaders in the Presidential Villa. “Since Abiola won, his picture should be placed among Nigeria’s past presidents,” Kalu stated, adding, “I commend former President Buhari for giving 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 succor to his family.”
Abiola was posthumously awarded the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018. Additionally, Abiola’s running mate, Baba Gana Kingibe, received the Grand Commander of the Niger (GCON) honor. Buhari also moved Nigeria’s Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12, in recognition of the significance of the election Abiola won.
In his remarks at the time, Buhari described June 12, 1993, as the day “when Nigerians in millions expressed their democratic will in what was undisputedly the freest, fairest, and most peaceful elections since our independence.”
