2019: Tinubu pledges allegiance to Buhari, as president explains why he gave Abiola Nat’l award

A national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu on Tuesday praised President Muhammadu Buhari for some of his achievements.

He assured the President of his readiness to contribute in every possible way to ensure he is reelected in 2019.

The former Lagos State governor suggested that electricity has become stable in Nigeria under the Buhari administration, saying that Nigerians are no “longer paying for darkness.”

Among other things, Tinubu applauded Buhari’s school feeding programme, which is part of the Federal Government’s Social Investment Programm (SIP).
Tinubu was among those President Buhari invited for the Special National Honours investiture of Chief MKO Abiola with the award of GCFR, at the Old Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa Abuja.

Also speaking at the event, President Muhammadu Buhari stated that the event was not meant to be and is not an attempt to open old wounds, but to put right a national wrong.

“Nigerians of their own free will voted for Late Chief MKO Abiola and Amb. Baba Gana Kingibe, the Presidential flag bearer and running mate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 1993 elections. The Government of the day inexplicably cancelled the elections when it was clear who were going to be the winners.
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“We cannot rewind the past but we can at least assuage our feelings; recognize that a wrong has been committed and resolve to stand firm now and in the future for the sanctity of free elections. Nigerians would no longer tolerate such perversion of justice.

“This retrospective and posthumous recognition is only a symbolic token of redress and recompense for the grievous injury done to the peace and unity of our country.

“Our decision to recognize and honour June 12 and its actors is in the national interest. It is aimed at setting national healing process and reconciliation of the 25 year festering wound caused by the annulment of the June 12th elections. I earnestly invite all Nigerians across all our national divide to accept it in good faith, he pleaded.