APC rep: Buhari should direct INEC to declare Abiola president-elect

Wale Raji, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member of the house of representatives from Lagos state, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the release of the results of the 1993 presidential election.

Raji also asked the president to urge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the election, “president-elect posthumously”.

He made the call in a matter of urgent public importance which he raised during plenary on Thursday.

Abiola emerged winner of the election which took place on June 12 1993 but the military government of Ibrahim Babangida annulled the exercise before the result was announced officially.

The lawmaker said declaring Abiola the president-elect would “resolve all issues relating to the election”.

He also prayed the house to commend Buhari for his decision to declare June 12 new date for celebration of Nigeria’s Democracy Day, in place of May 29.

Buhari announced the decision on Wednesday during which he also conferred the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on the late democrat.

“The election was adjudged the freest, fairest and most credible election in Nigeria,” Raji said, adding that releasing the results “would be good for serve as public document.”

Aliu Pategi, also a lawmaker, supported the call for the results of be released.

“It is good for our children to know about the election. We can release the results to become part of public records, and for the purpose of analysis,” he said, but added that “we don’t have to declare the winner. I don’t think that is necessary.”

Chris Azubogu from Anambra state sought an amendment to the motion that Buhari should also be asked to honour Humphrey Nwosu, then INEC chairman that oversaw the election.

“We all witnessed how he remained courageous in performance of his duties during that period. Anyone who stood up to what is right and was courageous enough to uphold the truth should be included as heroes as well,” he said.

The amendment was, however, not adopted in the end.

Most of the other lawmakers who spoke on the motion also kicked against declaring a winner in the election but said the results should be released.

However, due to contradictory views on whether the president’s decision was within the ambit of the law or not, Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house, suspended the motion and referred it to the house committee on rules and businesses to study and report back to the lawmakers. - The Cable

SAD !!! 70-year-old killed in stampede at Borno IDP camp

A 70-year- old man was killed while two persons sustained injuries at an internally displaced persons camps (IDPs) in Borno state.

At a press conference in the state on Tuesday, Yabawa Kolo, chairperson of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), confirmed the incident, saying it happened during breaking of fast at the camp.

Kolo said the displaced person died while trying to access food items at El-Miskin IDP camp in Maiduguri, while two others were wounded at Madinatu IDPs camp.

She asked philanthropists and humanitarian organisation to strictly adhere to acceptable norms underpinning the protection of IDPs and also respect all guiding principles.

”Separate exit and entry points, convenient facilities, screening and issuance of coupons, engaging camp leadership to capture diversity and complying with principles of gender, ethnicity, age, religion and disability should be considered while delivering assistance,” she said.

”SEMA is appealing to all intervention agencies and NGOs who lack capacity in crowd management and control to always seek assistance of SEMA-trained and experienced volunteers to assist them while conducting distribution exercise.”

Kolo said erring individuals or organisations that may cause or create havoc to IDPs while conducting distribution would be made to face the law.

”They shall be punished through the ‘Access to Justice by the Project’ run by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Maiduguri,” she said.

”All stakeholders are therefore, advised to seek military escort from nearest divisional force that is close to distribution points.” - The Cable 

‘This is what we’ve been waiting for’– Fawehinmi’s son speaks on GCON honour

Mohammed Fawehinmi, first son of Gani Fawehinmi, late human rights lawyer, says his family is happy with the conferment of the Grand Commander of the Niger (GCON) honour on his father.

President Muhammadu Buhari announced the conferment on Wednesday when he also honoured MKO Abiola, presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 election, with the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), and Baba Gana Kingibe, Abiola’s running mate in the election, with a GCON.

Fawehinmi, an advocate of the June 12 agitation, had called on then military President Ibrahim Babangida to recognise Abiola as the winner of the election.

He was consequently jailed alongside other activists over the June 12 debate.

Fawehinmi died in September 2009 after battling with lung cancer, aged 71.

Mohammed said the family has been expecting the recognition for years, adding that it is a welcome move.

“It is a welcome development. This is what we have been waiting for over the years. Good Nigerians have made several calls for Chief M K O Abiola to be recognised as a Nigerian president. For this government to have done this, it is a welcome gesture,” he said in a statement.

“It is a good news that M K O Abiola is going to be awarded GCFR honour and Babagana Kingibe to be awarded GCON, It is clear that Abiola was elected the president of this country, the mere fact that he was not sworn in does not mean he was not elected. This has vindicated Abiola.

“For my father’s honour, we thank the government for that. We know he deserved it. We are happy for that.”

Mixed reactions have trailed the conferment of the national honours since the president made the announcement.

While some applauded the move, others questioned the legality of the president’s action.

Among those who questioned the legality of the move is Alfa Belgore, a former chief justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Belgore had argued that the national honours “is for people living.” - Cable Nigeria