According to the President, when children ask who Abiola is in the future, he gesture will speak for him.
Buhari said this on Tuesday when the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, led a delegation to Abuja to thank him for honoring the politician who died in the course of fighting to regain the presidential mandate given him during the June 12 election.
ident Buhari has described late MKO Abiola as a bridge builder who could have prevented the religious and tribal issues besetting the country now from coming up if he had been allowed to rule Nigeria.
Buhari said, “If MKO Abiola was allowed to rule, the religious and tribal issues now in Nigeria would not have been as strong because he ran on a Muslim-Muslim ticket, chose his deputy from Kanuri, a minority tribe, and because of his personality, he went across Nigeria and was accepted. He used his resources and energy to convince Nigerians that all he wanted was a solid Nigeria and nothing else.”
President Buhari also said that he named the National Stadium, a national monument, after the late politician because he knew that the youths would, in future, want to find out why such an important national institution was named after MKO Abiola. He expressed appreciation to Governor Dapo Abiodun for mobilising such a strong delegation to thank him for the gesture towards their illustrious son.’
Dapo Abiodun noted that Bihari’s gesture towards MKO showed that he (President) was a true statesman.
He said, “I came with eminent citizens of Ogun State to come and visit and thank President Buhari for graciously bestowing several honours on an illustrious son of Ogun State, Abiola
“Abiola participated in a presidential election where historically a Muslim had another Muslim running mate; that election was adjudged free and fair; that election he was adjudged to have won but was never declared winner.
“Several years afterwards, it took the person of the president to bestow and rekindle that hope that was dashed which was the theme of Abiola’s campaign that time tagged ‘Hope 93’; that hope was dashed by his untimely death at the age of 60.
“Our dear president rekindled that hope first by committing and changing June 12 to be Democracy Day and bestowing on him a National Award GCFR, which is reserved for someone who has served on a national capacity.
“His naming a federal institution which is the stadium in Abuja after him, deservedly so; because Abiola is a true philanthropist and lover of sports.
“We thought it wise by coming with sons of Ogun State across board to come and show our deep appreciation to President Buhari.’’
