The Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has endorsed calls for President Bola Tinubu to posthumously recognize Chief MKO Abiola as Nigeria’s rightful President.
Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye, confirmed this in an interview on Tuesday, supporting an earlier appeal by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who urged the federal government to grant Abiola this long-overdue honor.
Faloye stated, “We support the proposal. In fact, we reached the same resolution during our monthly meeting on Tuesday.”
He pointed out that former President Muhammadu Buhari had already honored Abiola with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR), a title usually reserved for Presidents.
Faloye suggested that Tinubu should take an additional step by officially recognizing Abiola as a former Nigerian leader.
He remarked, “If Tinubu could go further, it would be a welcome rectification of a historic political injustice.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Kalu, representing Abia North Senatorial District, urged Tinubu to acknowledge Abiola as a past President, arguing that his victory in the annulled June 12, 1993, election should be officially recognized.
“Yes, Abiola won the election, and I believe President Tinubu should declare him President posthumously,” Kalu said while speaking to journalists at the National Assembly Complex.
Kalu praised Buhari’s decision to honor Abiola but insisted that more recognition was needed.
He stated, “Since Abiola won, his picture should be placed among Nigeria’s past Presidents. This would bring closure to his family and the entire country.”
Kalu’s appeal follows former military President General Ibrahim Babangida’s recent admission that Abiola indeed won the June 12 election, which is widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest election.
