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President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday stunned political pundits who were gathered at the Banquette hall of the Presidential Villa, he, on behalf of the Federal government of Nigeria tendered unreserved apology for the annulment of the June 12 Presidential election, warning that “Nigerians will never again tolerate such perception of justice”
The occasion organized recognize to honour the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election as well as formerly entrench the day as the future Democracy Day in Nigeria, going forward.
The President said “ On behalf of the Federal Government, I tender the nation’s apology to the family of Late MKO Abiola, who got the highest votes and to those that lost their loved ones in the cause of June 12 struggle.”
Buhari who noted that the celebration was not meant to “reopen old wounds” noted rather “that it is aimed at righting the wrongs done with the annulment of that election” as well as “healing old wounds caused by the election”
He noted that the event marked a new dawn in the nation’s political landscapes, added that the “action is to bury the negative side of June 12”
“Today, I am very happy to be present and to preside over the Commemoration and Investiture, marking the formal official Federal Government recognition of June 12 as National Democracy Day.”
The ceremony which was retrospective as well as posthumous recognition of the sacrifice of the June 12 activist, was seen as symbolic token of redress and recompense for the grievous injury done to the peace and unity of the country.
“The decision and this event is not meant to be and is not an attempt to open old wounds but to put right a national wrong. Nigerians of their own free will voted for Late Chief MKO Abiola and Amb. Baba Gana Kingibe, the Presidential flag bearer and running mate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 1993 elections.
“Government of the day inexplicably cancelled the elections when it was clear who were going to be the winners.
He said the nation cannot rewind the past, but said “we can at least assuage our feelings; recognize that a wrong has been committed and resolve to stand firm now and in the future for the sanctity of free elections. Nigerians would no longer tolerate such perversion of justice.”
Buhari said the decision to recognize and honour June 12 and its actors is in the national interest.
“It is aimed at setting national healing process and reconciliation of the 25 year festering wound caused by the annulment of the June 12th elections. I earnestly invite all Nigerians across all our national divide to accept it in good faith.
“ Our action today is to bury the negative side of June 12, the side of ill-feelings, hate, frustrations and agony. What we are doing is celebrating and appreciating the positive side of June 12. The June 12, which restate democracy and freedom. The June 12 that overcome our various divide and the June 12 that produced unity and National cohesion. This is the June 12 we are celebrating today and we will nurture it to our next generation.
Former President Olusegun Obassnjo, former Military head of state Ibrahim Babangida and Humphrey Nwosu who was the Chairman of the National Electoral Commission( NECO) that conducted the annulled election had sent in apologizes for their inability to attended the investiture ceremony.
President Muhammadu Buhari, had earlier conferred the Post-Humous national honours of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), on MKO Abiola, while Gani Fawehinmi and Babagana Kingibe where honored with Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), at the investiture ceremony.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka urged the President to take the decision further by recognizing “ the unsung heroes and heroines” of the June 12 struggle.
“ All that is left to me is to plead so that we do not forget the nameless, the unsung heroes and heroines of that struggle. A number of names have already been listed but l will like to include one of the pioneers , the instigators of the physical confrontations with that dictator, Comrade Ola Oni, who mobilized a number of people and fought the goons and slaves and surrogates of that dictator in that auspiciously named stadium in Ibaban, Liberty Stadium”
Soyinka who lampooned Buhari for praising former Military head of state and dictator, Sani Abacha, called on the President to open “ hall of shame”.
“Today perhaps is also an opportunity to inaugurate our hall of shame so that as we have our Hall of heroes on the one hand, we can also have our hall of shame, as a lesson to future generation, but your apology has been most touching. On behalf of the Nigerian people, l accept it. I accept and l am sure that most Nigerians will agree with me.
He sees the recognition as beginning of efforts to immortalize June 12 actors. “l do not agree that this is closure to the event of June 12.
“There are far too many traumatized individuals walking around the street,, pauperized individuals walking around as a result of the policies and attitudes of one of the most brutal dictator. In fact, the most brutal dictator that this country has ever known.
“Closure will come by responding to those traumatized individuals or victims of unspeakable tortures, some of whom were compelled to watch even to watch their beloved ones being tortured, on behalf of a man who was determined not just to demonize, to dominate his environment , but also to dehumanize that environment.
Daughter of late Abiola, Hafsat Abiola, tendered apology to President Buhari on behalf of the Abiola family adding that “ who would have ever believed given the relationship that you had with MKO Abiola that you would be the instrument God will use to honour this man and to bring recognition and healing to the country.
“President Muhammadu Buhari, Nelson Mandela it was who said, “It always seems impossible until it is down.”
“You apologized to my family and it touched my heart. You know that I also lost my mother in this struggle, so that apology meant so much. Let me use this opportunity, on behalf of the Chief MKO Abiola because I know what he would have done, I use this opportunity to apologize to you, to apologize to your family, anything that he might have done to harm you and to harm your family.”
She noted that MKO Abiola was so committed to us saying farewell to poverty in Nigeria and today we have more people in poverty in Nigeria than we had in 1993.
