In a landmark decision, it has been announced that the former running mate to the acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential election, MKO Abiola, Babagana Kingibe, has been finally been recognised as an ex-Vice President by the Nigerian Government.
Kingibe was introduced as former Vice President when he was requested to join a group photograph at the Eagles Square on Monday, during the celebration of this year’s Democracy Day.
He was requested to join President Muhammadu Buhari, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, and President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan.
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Others called for the photograph include the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Chief Justice of the Federation, Ibrahim Tanko, and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu.
The event is the last Democracy parade President Buhari will preside over before his exit in 2023.
Recall that the 19993 June 12 presidential election was annulled by the then military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.
Last year, Buhari reviewed Nigeria’s democracy Day from May 29 to June 12 in honour of Abiola.
While Buhari’s administration honoured Abiola nothing was publicly declared about Kingibe, until today.
In another report, Zainab Duke-Abiola, one of the widows of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, has hailed the late politician for sacrificing himself for Nigeria.
Babangida had claimed the annulment was necessary to save the nation. He alleged that political activities preceding the election were inimical to peace and stability in Nigeria.
The June 12 election and subsequent annulment marked the beginning of a decade-long struggle to see the election result restored and democracy rehabilitated.
In a letter to the late politician obtained by SaharaReporters, Zainab said corruption and terrorism are now the order of the day in Nigeria, which he and others laid their lives for.
Muhammadu Buhari is the current President of Nigeria, the most populous black nation in the world.
“My Darling MKO, Wa Ingi Di of Kalabari Kingdom, Bashorun, the 14th Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land who by the special grace of God and the Presidential Fiat of President Buhari, you are now an ex-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the Akasoba of Kalabari land in the Niger Delta said in the letter.
“From this Terra Mater, I send you felicitations as you and my loving parents with whom you shared the same birthday, continue to play music in the heavenly orchestra for the Daeus in Caelo, better than you played on earth.
“As you recall, on June 12 1993 you won the freest and fairest presidential election ever in the country and you were given the Sacred Mandate of a heterogeneous conglomerate called Nigeria. The elections were subsequently annulled and Aare MKO Abiola was held under lock and key, incommunicado, for several agonizing years.
“In fighting for the actualization of the people’s mandate you and other great lovers of democracy laid down your lives that democracy might thrive and for Nigeria to be free from Military dictatorship. Aare Onakakanfo and his fellow patriots were cut down in a meaningless battle of egos. Your precious blood was shed to water the tree of democracy and the angels cried out for Justice.
“It might interest you to know that June 12 has been enshrined as Democracy Day in Nigeria in your honour by the present regime. It might also interest you to know that some state governors have cancelled this democratic celebration due to the spade of macabre terrorism and bloodletting in the country.
“How come the great military that once ruled this great continent cannot defeat a rag-tag group of marauding murderers masquerading as martyrs? Whatever the political permutations the country’s ills appear to be growing in leaps and bounds. Terrorism rules the day closely followed by corruption escorted by segregation, victimisation and oppression whilst hunger brandishes the koboko cane and leads a hapless people on a journey to nowhere.
“On the political turf Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, my gubernatorial colleague under the Social Democratic Party, SDP, have emerged the flag bearers of two of Africa’s largest political parties. The emergence of these two great Nigerians is mainly kudos to the political School of Thought of General Shehu Yar’Adua and MKO Abiola, in that order.
“However, it would be tantamount to the height of socordia horribilis if they fail to carry women along in their permutations. Political apathy permeates the land and Nostalgia for free and fair elections akin to June 12 is palpable. Recall that former President Jonathan infamously confiscated my Presidential nomination form and for that oversight, the Peoples Democratic Party lost elections in 2015. We are still in court.
“My Darling husband, you did well in leaving behind a good and responsible family, sensible, educated and well-behaved children. God bless you for your leadership qualities. We miss you more than words can say. As I often said to you solemnly- “venit, vidit, vicit” -you came, you saw you conquered.
“Besides, the blessed elements so enthusiastically infused in you the essence of the divine that Nature itself will declare from heaven and say to the world “MKO is a Great Man”. Yes, is, not was, as We acknowledge once more, the sacrifices you made for June 12. Keep smiling, keep singing to the Almighty Daeus in Caelo.”