The Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has expressed support for the push to have President Bola Tinubu officially recognize Chief MKO Abiola as a former Nigerian President.
Speaking on the matter, Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye, affirmed the group’s position in an interview on Tuesday. He aligned with Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who recently urged the federal government to grant Abiola full posthumous recognition.
“We are in full support of this move. In fact, it was one of the decisions reached during our monthly meeting on Tuesday,” Faloye stated.
He recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari had already awarded Abiola the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR), a title reserved for Presidents.
Faloye believes that Tinubu should take the recognition further by officially acknowledging Abiola as one of Nigeria’s past Presidents.
“If President Tinubu takes this step, it would help correct a major political injustice,” he added.
Earlier, Senator Kalu, representing Abia North Senatorial District, had urged Tinubu to officially recognize Abiola’s victory in the annulled June 12, 1993, election. He emphasized that the historical record should reflect that Abiola was the rightful winner.
“Abiola won that election, and I believe President Tinubu should declare him President posthumously,” Kalu said during a media interaction at the National Assembly Complex.
He commended Buhari for previously honoring Abiola but insisted that more should be done.
“Since Abiola was the true winner, his portrait should be displayed alongside Nigeria’s past Presidents. This will provide closure for his family and Nigerians as a whole,” Kalu added.
His statement follows recent comments by former military leader General Ibrahim Babangida, who, for the first time, publicly admitted that Abiola won the June 12 election—widely regarded as Nigeria’s most credible poll.