The Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has endorsed the demand for President Bola Tinubu to posthumously recognize Chief MKO Abiola as a former Nigerian President.
Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye, confirmed the group’s stance in an interview on Tuesday, aligning with a similar request made by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who urged the federal government to grant Abiola full recognition.
“We fully support this proposal. In fact, it was part of the resolutions reached during our monthly meeting on Tuesday,” Faloye stated.
He pointed out that former President Muhammadu Buhari had already honored Abiola with the title of Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR), a distinction traditionally reserved for Presidents.
Faloye suggested that Tinubu should take a step further by officially acknowledging Abiola as one of Nigeria’s past leaders.
“If President Tinubu goes ahead with this, it would correct a longstanding political injustice,” he added.
Earlier, Senator Kalu, representing Abia North Senatorial District, had urged Tinubu to recognize Abiola as a former President, emphasizing that his victory in the annulled June 12, 1993, election should not be overlooked.
“Abiola won the election, and I believe President Tinubu should declare him President posthumously,” Kalu stated during a media briefing at the National Assembly Complex.
He acknowledged Buhari’s efforts in conferring a national honor on Abiola but insisted that further steps were needed.
“Since Abiola was the rightful winner, his portrait should be placed alongside Nigeria’s past Presidents. This would provide closure for his family and the nation,” Kalu added.
His remarks come shortly after former military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida publicly admitted for the first time that Abiola had won the June 12 election, which is widely regarded as the most credible election in Nigeria’s history.