BREAKING: Buhari Renames Abuja National Stadium After MKO Abiola

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has as a mark of honour named the Abuja National Stadium after the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, Moshood Abiola.

Buhari made the declaration today at the Eagle Square, Abuja while delivering his speech to mark the Democracy Day celebrations.

He said, “Today, I propose the renaming of the Abuja National stadium henceforth, it will be called Moshood Abiola National stadium”.

He also made mention of what must be done to compensate for the wrongs done leading up to the annulment of the June 12 election.

“As we all know, correcting injustice is a free requisite for peace and unity; as part of the processes of healing and reconciliation, I approved the recognition of June 12 as democracy day and invested the late chief Abiola and Babagana Kingibe with national honours as I did with late chief Gani Fawehinmi, the purpose was to partially atone for the trivial damage done in annulling the presidential elections of that year,” Buhari said.

Abiola contested and reportedly won the 1993 presidential election that was adjudged to be the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history even by the former chairman of Nigeria’s National Electoral Commission (NEC), Humphrey Nwosu, who conducted the polls.

Abiola contested under the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

But rather than declare him winner of the election, the then military government of Ibrahim Babangida reportedly ordered NEC to suspend collation and subsequent announcement of the winner of the election.

He thereafter annulled the polls on June 23.

The annulment of the election reportedly triggered protests in the South Western part of the country.

Abiola, feeling cheated and dissatisfied with the development declared himself President in 1994 in Epetedo, Lagos Island.

He had declared: “As of now, from this moment, a new Government of National Unity is in power throughout the length and breadth of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, led by me, Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola, as President and Commander-in-Chief. The National Assembly is hereby reconvened. All dismissed governors are reinstated.

“The State Assemblies are reconstituted, as are all local government councils. I urge them to adopt a bi-partisan approach to all the issues that come before them. At the national level, a bi-partisan approach will be our guiding principle. I call upon the usurper, General Sani Abacha, to announce his resignation forthwith, together with the rest of his illegal ruling council. We are prepared to enter into negotiations with them to work out the mechanics for a smooth transfer of power.

“I pledge that if they hand over quietly, they will be retired with all their entitlements, and their positions will be accorded all the respect due to them. For our objective is neither recrimination nor witch-hunting, but an enforcement of the will of the Nigerian people, as expressed in free elections conducted by the duly constituted authority of the time.

“I hereby invoke the mandate bestowed upon me by my victory in the said election, to call on all members of the Armed Forces and the Police, the Civil and Public Services throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to obey only the Government of National Unity that is headed by me, your only elected President,” he added.

Abiola’s action was viewed by the then Head of States, late General Sani Abacha as treason, and was subsequently arrested and incarcerated for four years.

He later died on July 7, 1998, which according to reports was the day he was to be freed.