Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has stated that Nigerians have long recognized the late MKO Abiola as a former president of the country.
Abiola won the 1993 presidential election, which was later annulled by then-military president Ibrahim Babangida.
Thirty years after the election, Babangida, during the launch of his memoir, admitted that Abiola had indeed won but claimed the annulment was in the “national interest.”
Following Babangida’s admission, some have called on President Bola Tinubu to officially recognize Abiola as a former president. However, Falana argued that Nigerians have already conferred that status upon him.
“Since 1993, he has been recognized by the people of Nigeria as an elected president,” Falana said during an appearance on *Politics Today* on Channels Television. “Those trying to turn back the hands of the clock are only now acknowledging what has long been established.”
