President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said the decision by the Federal Government to announce June 12 as Nigerian’s democracy is designed to right the wrongs done in the past.
At a Special National Honours Investiture, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja which was presided over by Buhari, Chief Moshood Abiola was awarded the Grand Commander Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR) while Ambassador Babagana Kingibe was awarded the Grand Commander of the Niger (GCON) while late Chief Gani Fawehimi was awarded GCON.
Speaking at the investiture of the award on Abiola, Kingibe and Chief Fawehimi, President Buhari said the conferment is “not an attempt to open old wounds but to right the wrongs of the past”.
Chief Moshood Abiola, who ran under the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) presumably, won the election, on June 12, 1993.
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Regrettably, the election which was considered one of the freest and most credible in the history of Nigeria was annulled by the then military President Ibrahim Babangida.
The president who apologized on behalf of Nigeria for the annulment and injustice done to Abiola and other pro-democracy activists in the country said “We can’t rewind the past but we can assuage our feelings” adding that “Nigerians will no longer tolerate such perversion of justice”.
FG To Honour More Pro-June 12 Activists
Meanwhile the Federal Government, on Tuesday announced the approval for the conferment of national honours on more Nigerians who actively struggled for the realization of the June 12 presidential election.
The announcement for the award of more pro- June 12 activists with national honours was made known, on Tuesday, by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha at the award ceremony.
Names of the awardees according to Mustapha would be announced shortly.
