The Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has endorsed Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s demand for the posthumous recognition of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola as a former President of Nigeria. This renewed advocacy comes in response to former military president, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida’s recent admission that Abiola won the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.
Speaking to journalists at the National Assembly, Senator Kalu, who represents Abia North Senatorial District, urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive action by officially acknowledging Abiola as a past leader of the country. He emphasized that Abiola’s image should be displayed alongside Nigeria’s former leaders in the Presidential Villa, stating, “Yes, Abiola won the election. And I will say President Tinubu should declare him a president posthumously.” Kalu lauded former President Muhammadu Buhari for previously conferring the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Abiola, but insisted that further steps were necessary to ensure full recognition.
Kalu stressed that posthumous acknowledgment of Abiola’s presidency would not only rectify a historic wrong but also provide much-needed solace to Abiola’s family and supporters. His call has reignited discussions around the 1993 election, often described as Nigeria’s most credible democratic exercise, which was controversially annulled by the Babangida-led military government.
Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye, confirmed the group’s support for Kalu’s proposition, disclosing that the matter was extensively discussed at their recent meeting. “We support the proposal. We actually discussed and came to the same resolution in our monthly meeting held on Tuesday,” Faloye revealed. He acknowledged Buhari’s symbolic gesture with the GCFR honor but argued that further action was required to fully restore Abiola’s legacy.
“If Tinubu could go further, it would be a welcome rectification of a historic political injustice,” he remarked. Faloye insisted that officially recognizing Abiola as a former President would be a decisive step toward addressing the political wounds left by the annulled election.
The renewed push for Abiola’s official recognition gained momentum following the publication of General Babangida’s memoir, A Journey in Service: An Autobiography, in which he acknowledged that Abiola had indeed won the 1993 election. Reflecting on Babangida’s revelations, Kalu suggested that the former military leader should release a second volume of his memoirs to shed light on unresolved questions surrounding the annulment.
“I look forward to the second edition of Babangida’s book because the first did not reveal all the realities,” Kalu remarked, urging Babangida to expose those responsible for preventing Abiola’s official declaration as President.
Afenifere also underscored the far-reaching consequences of the annulment, highlighting its detrimental impact on Nigeria’s democratic history. The group’s Organizing Secretary, Kole Omololu, lamented the tragic events that followed the crisis, including the assassinations of Kudirat Abiola and Alfred Rewane. He described Babangida’s belated acknowledgment of Abiola’s victory as a mere reaffirmation of what Nigerians have known for over three decades.
“His belated acknowledgment that the election was indisputably free, fair, and credible merely reaffirms what Nigerians have known for over three decades,” Afenifere stated, adding that Babangida’s admission does not absolve him or his associates of their actions.
While the group welcomed symbolic gestures like Kalu’s proposal, it maintained that substantive steps must be taken to correct the injustice. They urged the Nigerian government to take concrete measures to preserve Abiola’s legacy and uphold democratic principles.
