June 12: My father was rehearsing presidential speech before Babangida annulled – Abiola’s daughter

…says Buhari has brought healing, reconciliation to Nigeria

Hafsat Abiola-Costello, the daughter Late Moshood Abiola, the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993, presidential election, said President Muhammadu Buhari has brought reconciliation and healing to Nigeria by recognising her father.

The human rights activist, who spoke in an emotion-laden speech on Tuesday in Abuja, thanked the federal government for the conferment of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on the late politician.

She said that the award to her father and other Nigerians meant so much to her.

Hafsat was invited by her elder brother, Kola Abiola, to speak on behalf of the Abiola family, at the investiture of the posthumous award on their father held at the presidential villa.

“It is difficult to try to stand in the shoes of a giant of one of the greatest human beings that the world ever had. But that is the responsibility that I bear today.

“Even for Chief MKO Abiola, it was difficult to imagine how he would speak to Nigerians in his inauguration speech.

“My mum told me how he would stand in front of the mirror, preparing the speech because the results were coming in and he taught he would surely deliver the speech.

“You know he was a stammer and he would start … fellow Nigerians and he never really got pass fellow Nigerians.

“He would say a few words and then reply not like that, and he would start again,’’ she stated.

She said her father’s love for Nigerians was unparalleled, leading him to die for Nigeria instead of compromising on the integrity and sovereignty of the nation.

“Although he was Yoruba, he loved Hausas, Kanuris, Efiks, Igbos and all, you just needed to be a Nigerian,’’ she said.