Adeyemi Praises Buhari, Wants Stadium Named after Abiola

Says ex-NEC boss Nwosu deserves national honour too

A former Chairman of Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Smart Adeyemi, yesterday praised President Muhammadu Buhari for awarding the presumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola with Nigeria’s highest national honour.

He urged the President to either name the National Stadium in Lagos or Abuja after Abiola.

He said whenever the history of Nigeria’s democracy is going to be written, President Buhari would certainly get a positive mention.

He, however, advised Buhari to recognise all the heroes of June 12 whether dead or alive.

He said the country should also not forget the chief umpire of the “undiluted election,” Prof. Humphrey Nwosu adding that he also deserves to be appreciated.

Adeyemi, in a chat with journalists in Abuja said the honour done to Abiola vindicated a line of Nigeria’s national anthem which says that “the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain.”

He said: “I want to say that what the President has done is highly commendable. What he has done is to right the wrongs of the past as a patriot and leader who is committed to the socio-political and economic development of the country.

“He has shown a great sense of character as a man who is committed to the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria. What he has done is one of the landmark achievements.”

Adeyemi pleaded with Buhari to honour all June 12, 1993 Presidential Election heroes whether alive or dead.

He added: “MKO Abiola deserves the honour and what we should be thinking of right now is to name a huge national edifice after him. MKO was the man who personified democracy in Nigeria and the Field Marshall of all democratic warriors.

“When he is honoured all the foot soldiers must also be recognised by engraving their names on a monument to be erected in a national edifice in memory of MKO. Those who contributed to the struggle for June 12 are indeed widespread. They are human right activists, the media political stakeholders and others. We must erect a plaque in their honour and name all of them for special mention.

He added that the chief umpire of the “undiluted election,” Professor Nwosu also deserves to be appreciated.