The Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye has
changed his position on the recent Federal Government’s honouring of the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential election, Moshood Abiola, with Grand
Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).
The lawmaker, who held that the President erred initially is now throwing his weight behind the FG's decision after his comment was widely criticised by many Nigerians.
Melaye in a statement on Sunday, said his previous
comments were “misrepresented.”
He said his support for the award is unshaken as he had been clamouring for
such years before.
“Since last two days, I have been inundated with calls and
text messages from well-meaning Nigerians especially my constituents, who want
to inquire my exact position on the declaration of June 12 as the new Democracy
Day and the conferment of the highest National Honours of GCFR on the late
Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election.
“For the avoidance of doubt, my views and belief on the sanctity of June 12 and
the place of the late Chief MKO Abiola in Nigeria’s democratic history, have
not changed and will not.
Hence, in my view, the decision by the Federal Government led by President
Muhammadu Buhari to honour the late business mogul was deserving and long
overdue save for the attendant legal issues raised.
“It is a verifiable fact that I have canvassed for this recognition for Chief
Abiola over the years, and granted interview to Channels Television two years
ago, where I advocated for same.”
The lawmaker did not offer any clarification on his earlier statement on the
“loss of citizenship of the deceased.”
He instead urged the federal government to work on what he said were legal
encumbrances surrounding the decision and to alter the National Honours Act “to
accomodate the new development.”
“Let me make also it abundantly clear that while both Chief Abiola and the late
legal luminary, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) deserved more than the GCFR and GCON
Honours respectively to be bestowed on them posthumously next Tuesday, it is
however important that the right thing be done in their memory should not have
any blemish in the guise of the current debate for legality or otherwise of the
historic Honours as we are witnessing now.
“I urge the federal government to do the needful and display sincerity of
purpose by officially recognising Chief Abiola as President-elect and cause the
official results of the June 12, 1993 presidential election to be released by
INEC since President Buhari himself had admitted in the Presidential Order
designating June 12 as Democracy Day, the most freest and credible election,
and then the GCFR title will therefore have a meaning.
“If the right thing is done now by the federal government by proposing
amendment to the National Honours Act 1964 to accommodate the current
developments, no government in future will reverse the decision. This is my
stand as a lawmaker,” Mr Melaye added.
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