L-R: Sen. Orji Kalu, Tinubu
By Chuks Uche
Former Abia State Governor and Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has urged President Bola Tinubu to officially recognize the late Chief MKO Abiola as one of Nigeria’s past presidents by inaugurating him posthumously.
Kalu was speaking to Senate correspondents before plenary on Tuesday.
The senator’s reaction follows former military president Ibrahim Babangida’s disclosure during his recently released memoir, where he admitted that Abiola won the election.
According to the lawmaker, the late Abiola’s victory should be fully officially recognized.
He also suggested that Abiola’s portrait should be placed alongside those of other former leaders in the Presidential Villa.
“Yes, Abiola won the election.
“And I will say President Tinubu should declare him a president posthumously,” Kalu stated.
He lauded former President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to for confer a national honour on Abiola but insisted that further recognition was necessary.
“Since Abiola won, his picture should be placed among Nigeria’s past presidents.
I commend former President Buhari for giving him a national honour, but I also appeal to President Tinubu to officially recognize him and place his image where it belongs.
“This would help bring succour to his family,” Kalu said.
Kalu however described Babangida’s memoir as incomplete.
He urged him to publish a second volume to clarify unanswered questions about the annulment of the June 12 election.
“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 said.
He also refuted claims that the Jan. 1966 coup was an Igbo ethnic conspiracy.
“If was a Nigerian coup, executed by the military, not an Igbo coup,” Kalu stressed.
