Declare Abiola winner of June 12 election, Fayose urges

• Pronouncement makes no meaning, ex-NADECO member asserts
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State yesterday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to declare the late M.K.O Abiola winner of the June 12 election.

While commending the president for recognising the day, he urged him to go beyond the conferment on him of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).

Fayose said it was only by such declaration that the GCFR title would have a constitutional backing.

The governor made the remarks at a press briefing at the Government House in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

He said: “The honour done to the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola by President Muhammadu Buhari is a welcome development.

“We thank the president; even though we know that it is for political reasons, but we see it as a step in the right direction.”

He lamented that the then dictator, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida denied Nigerians the victory and opportunity to have Abiola as the country’s president.

He said: “Having realized that they goofed, they have come out to right the wrong. Besides, you can’t keep such title of GCFR without being the president of Nigeria.

“The president should be courageous enough by announcing the results of the election and declaring Abiola the winner of the June 12 poll.”

He condemned the annulment of the poll’s results, as well as the brutality of Nigerians who protested against it.

He also flayed election rigging, brute force and manipulations during elections in the country.”

Also reacting to the declaration, a former member of the defunct National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) from Plateau State, Nde Alexander Molwus, said there was nothing to eulogise about the president’s speech.

According to him, it would have been better if Buhari had declared October 1, 1960 when Nigeria attained independence as democracy day.

He explained that the objective of forming the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) was to allow Nigerians to govern themselves by returning to democracy.

It was also to stop the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha from succeeding himself as civilian President of Nigeria.