President Muhammadu Buhari has apologised to Nigerians and particularly to the family of the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, for their travails after the election.
“We cannot rewind the past but we can at least assuage our feelings, recognise that a wrong has been committed and resolve to stand firm now and ease the future for the sanctity of free elections.
“Nigerians will no longer tolerate such perversion of justice. This retrospective and posthumous recognition is only a symbolic token of redress and recompense for the grievous injury done to the peace and unity of our country.”
Buhari gave the apology in Abuja on Tuesday after conferring the title, Grand Commander Of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Abiola.
Buhari had on June 6, 2018 declared June 12 Nigeria’s new Democracy Day and announced that Abiola, and his running mate, Babagana Kingibe, as well as human rights crusader and lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi, would be honoured.
“The decision at this event is not meant to be, and is not, an attempt to open old wounds but to put right a national wrong,” Buhari said.
He added: “Nigerians, of their own free will, voted for Chief MKO Abiola, and Babagana Kingibe – the presidential flag bearer and running mate of the Social Democratic Party in the 1993 elections.”
He accused the government of the day of cancelling the elections when it was clear who was going to be the winners.