June 12: We’re Sorry, Buhari Begs MKO Abiola’s Family, Other Victims 

President Muhammadu Buhari confers Late Chief MKO Abiola with the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic – GCFR.

President Muhammadu Buhari, has apologised to the family of late Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential Election and other actors who died in course of struggles for the restoration of annulled election result.

Buhari who further on behalf of Nigerian’s said that such traversity of justice would no longer be tolerated, explained that the “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.”

He spoke at the commemoration and investiture marking the formal Federal Government’s recognition of June 12 as “National Democracy Day” and award ceremony of the June 12 actors held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Tuesday.

He explained that the decision to recognize and honour June 12 and its actors was in the national interest and to set national and reconciliation of the 25 years acrimony caused by the annulled June 12 elections.

The full speech reads:

“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 12 elections.

I earnestly invite all Nigerians across our entire 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.”