Former Abia State Governor and Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has called on President Bola Tinubu to officially recognize the late Chief MKO Abiola as one of Nigeria’s past presidents. Kalu emphasized that Abiola’s victory in the June 12, 1993, election should be fully acknowledged, with his portrait placed alongside those of other former leaders in the Presidential Villa.
Speaking to Senate correspondents, Kalu referenced former military president Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s memoir, which confirmed Abiola’s election win. While commending former President Muhammadu Buhari for awarding Abiola a national honor, Kalu insisted that posthumous presidential recognition is necessary to bring closure and honor his legacy.
He also urged Babangida to release a second volume of his memoirs to reveal more details about the annulment of the June 12 election, while dismissing claims that the 1966 coup was an ethnic conspiracy, stating it was a “Nigerian coup” executed by the military.