Yemi Obafemi
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North, has called on former military leader Ibrahim Babangida to publish a second volume of his memoir to clarify lingering questions about the annulment of the June 12 election.
Kalu urged Babangida to call out the names of those responsible for preventing the election declaration.
The senator made this statement while urging President Bola Tinubu to formally acknowledge the late Chief MKO Abiola as a former president of Nigeria.
Addressing Senate correspondents before Tuesday’s plenary, Senator Kalu reacted to recent disclosures by former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.), who acknowledged in his newly released memoir that Abiola won the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
He said, “Yes, Abiola won the election. And I will say President Tinubu should declare him a president posthumously”.
He praised former President Muhammadu Buhari for awarding a posthumous national honor to Abiola but emphasized the need for additional recognition.
“Since Abiola won, his picture should be placed among Nigeria’s past presidents. I commend former President Buhari for giving him a national honor, but I also appeal to President Tinubu to officially recognize him and place his image where it belongs. This would help bring succor to his family.
“I look forward to the second edition of Babangida’s book because the first did not reveal all the realities. I was present during the events of June 12, and I know what happened. Babangida should call out the names of those responsible for preventing the election declaration”.
Kalu further expressed confidence in Tinubu’s chances in winning 2027 election.
He said: “We are appealing to Nigerians to be patient with the reform process. We are not looking for another presidential candidate outside our party, we are fully aligned with democratic principles and supporting the sitting president”.
“The good news is that we will win again in 2027. The president will return, and Nigerians will celebrate with us. That is inevitable”.
