Former Abia State Governor and current Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has called on President Bola Tinubu to posthumously declare the late Chief MKO Abiola as one of Nigeria’s past presidents.
Kalu made this call ahead of Tuesday’s plenary session while speaking to Senate correspondents, asserting that Abiola’s portrait should be placed alongside other past Nigerian leaders in the Presidential Villa.
His remarks followed recent revelations in the memoir of former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.), who admitted that Abiola won the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
IBB, in his memoirs, “A Journey in Service: An Autobiography”, admitted that the late Abiola won the election.
Kalu, known to be an ‘IBB’s Boy,’ told Senate Correspondents that with IBB’s latest revelations, the controversy over the election had been laid to rest, hence Tinubu should declare Abiola one of Nigeria’s Presidents posthumously.
“Yes, Abiola won the election. And I will say President Tinubu should declare him a president posthumously,” Kalu stated.
He commended former President Muhammadu Buhari for honouring Abiola with a posthumous national award but stressed 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 bring succour to his family,” he added.
Kalu also urged Babangida to release a second volume of his memoir to reveal the full details of the June 12 annulment, saying, “I was present during the events of June 12, and I know what happened. Babangida should call out those responsible for preventing the election declaration.”
Beyond June 12, Kalu also pushed for President Tinubu’s reelection in 2027. When asked about the next presidential election, he confidently stated, “Yes, Asiwaju will win in 2027.”
In what appeared to be Kalu’s commencement of the campaign for the reelection of President Tinubu in 2027, he said there was no doubt the president would be re-elected.
“Yes, Asiwaju will win in 2027,” he said unequivocally in response to a question.
Kalu, who was attired in a burgundy coloured dress on Tuesday, against his traditional all-white outfit, said the colour meant continuity.
“This is continuity; it means Asiwaju, continue!”
He explained that “Many Nigerian presidents who have not performed well have still won a second term. We are appealing to the Nigerian people to be patient with the reform process. We are not looking for another presidential candidate outside of our party; we are fully aligned with democratic principles and support the sitting president.
“The good news is that we will win again in 2027. The president will return, and Nigerians will celebrate with us. That is inevitable.”
