President Muhammadu Buhari will Tuesday morning, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, confer Nigeria’s highest honour to the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993 election, late Moshood Abiola.
While Mr Abiola will be given a posthumous award of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), his then running mate, Babagana Kingibe, will be awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).
Also, late human rights activist and senior lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi, will be awarded the GCON.
Mr Buhari had last week announced that henceforth, Democracy Day in Nigeria will be celebrated on June 12 and not May 29 each year.
Already, several individuals and groups who played prominent roles pushing for the actualisation of June 12 and its proclamation as Nigeria’s Democracy Day have been invited to witness the event, which will hold inside the conference centre of State House Villa, Abuja.
PREMIUM TIMES will bring you live updates of the event.
Already at Banqueth hall. Tinubu, Akande, governors of Kogi, Kano, Kebbi, Kwara, Benue, Nasarawa, Jigawa and several Ministers, SGF
Wole Soyinka arrives the venue
Babagana Kingibe arrives for the program
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha is currently given the opening remarks and welcoming all personalities present.
Amonst those here are President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Bola Tinubu, Bisi Akande, Wole Soyinka and several states governors.
Mr Mustapha says the conferment of honours on Mr Abiola and others was to further establish the fundamental principles of the Buhari administration.
“Nation building requires the sacrifice of all citizens, we must therefore imbibe the moral rectitude to embrace our past,” he said.
“We must, therefore, recognise the heroes of our democracy,” he added.
June 12, more than any other events in Nigeria’s history symbolises strong democratic principles and experience, Mr Mustapha says.
He adds that the president has placed history in the right perspective by recognising declaring June 12 as a Democracy Day and recognising its key figures.
He thanks groups and individuals who have played roles in entrenching Nigeria’s democratic experience for the past 20 years of uninterrupted republic.
Mr Mustapha says an announcement is underway for the list of individuals who have played critical roles in furthering the cause of democracy.
Kola Abiola, first son of M.K.O., and Abba Kyari, the chief of staff to the president, are amongst those present taking seats at the front row.
President Muhammadu Buhari has been called to the stage.
Ganiyat Fawehinmi, wife of the late rights activist, will be receiving the national honours on behalf of the family, coming nearly nine years after his death.
In 2008, Mr Fawehinmi denied national honours when announced for him by former President Umar Yar’Adua. He died in September 2009 and his family rejected a similar honour during Nigeria’s centenary celebrations in 2014.
The family said last week the latest award appropriately honoured the memory of Mr Fawehinmi and, therefore, accepted it from Mr Buhari.
President Muhammadu Buhari has been called to the stage.
Ganiyat Fawehinmi, wife of the late rights activist, will be receiving the national honours on behalf of the family, coming nearly nine years after his death.
In 2008, Mr Fawehinmi denied national honours when announced for him by former President Umar Yar’Adua. He died in September 2009 and his family rejected a similar honour during Nigeria’s centenary celebrations in 2014.
The family said last week the latest award appropriately honoured the memory of Mr Fawehinmi and, therefore, accepted it from Mr Buhari.
BREAKING: Buhari confers posthumous award on Gani Fawehinmi
Mr Buhari has now given the posthumous award of the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger on Mr Fawhinmi as received by his wife.
The next person on the stage now is Mr Kingibe, who is present to receive the award in person. Mr Kingibe was the running mate of Mr Abiola in the botched 1993 elections.
A career diplomat, Mr Kingibe has been in politics since the second republic, 1979-1983.
BREAKING: Buhari confers GCON award on Babagana Kingibe
Mr Kingibe has now received his award from Mr Buhari.
Kola Abiola is now on the podium standing beside Mr Buhari to receive the posthumous award of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, Nigeria’s highest honour, on behalf of the family.
The late M.K.O. had a rich background in business, establishing several banks in his lifetime. He was also the publisher of the defunct National Concord, which held sway as Nigeria’s topmost newspaper in the 1980s and 1990s.
He joined active politics since the second republic, but became prominent under the military administration of Ibrahim Babangida, 1985-93.
BREAKING: Buhari confers Nigera’s national honours on M.K.O. Abiola.
Kola Abiola has now received the award on behalf of the family.
Mr Buhari now delivering his speech.
“This event is not to open old wounds, but to put light on the nation.”
“The government (of Ibrahim Babangida) inexplicably cancelled the (June 12, 1993) election when it was clear who was the winner.
“We cannot right the past but we can at least assuage our feelings.
“Nigerians will no longer tolerate such perversion of justice.
“Our decision to honour June 12 is in national interest,” the president says.
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