June 12: Abiola’s Honour An Attempt To ‘Put Right An Initial Wrong’ – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the GCFR investiture on late Chief Moshood Abiola is not an attempt to open old wounds.

Buhari, while delivering a keynote address at the ceremony which took place at the presidential villa said the award is to put right an initial wrong.

He said that Nigerians voted late Abiola into power, however, the government of the day cancelled the election.

“This event is not an attempt to open old wounds but to put right an initial wrong

“Nigerians on their own free will voted for Mko Abiola and Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, the presidential flagbearer and running mate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP in the 1993 elections.

“The government of the day inexplicably cancelled the elections, even when it was clear who was going to be the winner,” he said.

He, however, said Nigerians will no longer tolerate perversion of justice.

“We cannot rewind the past but we can at least express our feelings, recognize that a wrong has been committed,” he said.

He asked Nigerians to celebrate the positive side of June 12 “democracy and freedom that produced unity”.

According to him, “this June 12 will be nurtured even unto the next generation.”

The highest national honour was conferred on Chief Moshood Abiola, received by his eldest son, Kola.

The title of Grand Commander Order of the Niger was conferred on Babagana Kingibe, running mate of Late Abiola and on human rights activist, philanthropist and democracy hero, Gani Fawehinmi.