June 12: Declare MKO Abiola President Posthumously, Timi Frank Urges Tinubu

A former deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Thursday, urged President Bola Tinubu to formally validate the results of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and posthumously declare the candidate of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Moshood Kasimowo Olawale Abiola, winner of the exercise.

The political activist also urged President Tinubu to do the needful by equally paying all salaries and entitlement due to the late MKO Abiola for the eight years he would have served the country to his family.

Frank, in a statement in Abuja, said the call has become necessary since former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) retired, who annulled the election has owned up to the validity of results.

IBB had during the public presentation of his autobiography, titled: ‘A Journey in Service’, blamed former military Head of State, General Sani Abacha and other forces for instigating his annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election which he admitted that MKO Abiola won.

In his reaction, Frank equally called on IBB to as a mark of penitence, remit all the money he has realised from his book launch to MKO Abiola’s family.

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Frank said: “I don’t think Tinubu should waste any more time in officially declaring Abiola President and according him all the entitlements and recognition due him as former president.

“He can do this by sending a Bill to the National Assembly to recognise the June 12, 1993 presidential election and lawfully validate the results and declare MKO as the winner of the election.

“Good enough, Tinubu was at the forefront of the June 12 struggle, which was principally aimed at getting the General Sani Abacha’s junta to recognize Abiola as President and hand over power to him.”

The Bayelsa-born political activist, who is also the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, said it was not enough for IBB to express regret over the illegal annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election which was adjudged as the most peaceful, freest and fairest election conducted in Nigeria so far, he must apologise and beg Nigerians for forgiveness.

“IBB must apologise to Abiola’s family and Nigerians who continue to bear the negative consequences of his wicked, satanic, inhuman, anti-people and anti-God action when he single-handedly voided the election, an act which later culminated in the untimely death of Abiola in military custody.

“Until IBB atones for his sins and Tinubu officially recognizes Abiola as a former president of Nigeria, IBB will remain culpable and eternally blamable,” Frank stated.