The Federal lawmaker representing Abia North Senatorial District of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has urged President Bola Tinubu to give the family of late Bashorun M.K.O Abiola the treatment given to the families of former presidents and to swear him in post-mortem, so that we can also have his picture where other former presidents are that way the family will be healed.
Senator Kalu made the call on Tuesday in Abuja while addressing journalists at the National Assembly in reaction to the public restitution by the former military President, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) on the June 12 election annulment.
Recalls that IBB last week admitted openly that Chief Abiola actually won the June 12 presidential election which was eventually annulled by his administration.
Senator Kalu further stated that the coup against the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election was a Nigeria coup and not an Igbo’s coup as the former military president Ibrahim Gbadamosi Babangida has revealed.
He said he does not need IBB’s revelation to know that Igbos were accused unjustly for what transpired then, saying that the coup was a Nigerian coup executed by the military. Adding that some people failed to do their job. “That’s what I saw. And Igbos are bearing the brunt. Which is not fair on Igbos.”
However, Kalu highlighted that he is waiting for the second edition of IBB’s book because the first one that was launched a few days back did not bring out the realities of what actually happened. Especially when it concerns Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the then Chairman of National Electoral Commission (NEC) who was called by names after the annulment.
“I’m waiting for the second editions of that book, because the first edition did not bring out all the realities of what happened. Especially when it concerns Professor Humphrey, who was called names.
He said, “Not only Abacha was called by names. Those who stopped him. I was there, so I know what happened.
“IBB should call their names and write the second edition. So that Nigerians will know the role each of them played. Because people are thinking may be Babangida lied here and there.
“But I’m very grateful that the coup, they call Igbo coup, Babangida, has cleared the air. I don’t need Babangida to tell me that the coup was not an Igbo’s coup. That’s why I’m a Nigerian.
Meanwhile, Kalu acknowledged the fact that IBB agreed that MKO Abiola won the election, saying there’s no doubt about that.” I would like them to put Abiola’s picture where other former presidents’ pictures are put. If he won the election, though he was not sworn in.
