At the ceremony held to confer Special National Honours on ‘June 12 champions in Aso Rock today, June 12, 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari apologised on behalf of the Federal Government to the family of MKO Abiola over the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
Moreover, the Federal Government also recognised that the late Abiola won that election which former President Ibrahim Babangida cancelled.
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/kt1m5vOZFlI?t=7
At the event, Buhari presented awards to the late Chief MKO Abiola, Babagana Kingibe and late Gani Fawehinmi.
Members of families of the recipients and other invited guests witnessed the event.
The Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Bayo Onanuga, Mr Ayo Obe of Civil Society Organisations and Chief Frank Kokori from Labour movement were also present at the event.
Others who witnessed the ceremony include Sen. Bola Tinubu, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Fidelis Tapgun, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Sen. Jonathan Zwingina and Mr Femi Falana.
President Buhari, on June 6, directed that from 2019, Nigeria’s Democracy Day, marked every May 29 for the past 18 years, would now be celebrated on June 12.
The President directed Malam Shehu Malami, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, to take immediate steps to publish the Presidential Order in Federal Gazette as follows: “Chief MKO Abiola-Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (Posthumous).
He also directed Malami to gazette Alhaji Babagana Kingibe – Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, Chief Gani Fawehinmi – Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (Posthumous).