President Muhammadu Buhari,
Tuesday, in Abuja conferred National Honours on three distinguished Nigerians
who contributed immensely to the enthronement of democratic governance in the
country.
MKO Abiola was awarded GCFR, the
higest title in the land, while Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe and Chief Gani
Fawehinmi were awarded GCON.
However, former President
Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-Military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida,
IBB, did not attend the event.
Full text of Buhari’s speech
below:
“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 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. The Government
of the day inexplicably cancelled the elections when it was clear who were
going to be the winners.
We cannot rewind the past but 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.
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.
Our 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.
Accordingly, 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.
At this juncture, Ladies and
Gentlemen, I would like everybody present to stand and observe a minute silence
in honour of the memory of Chief MKO Abiola and Chief Fawehinmi and indeed all
those who lost their lives in the struggle of June 12 1993.
Thank you all and God bless
Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
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