The Federal Government is considering paying pension to the wives of the late Chief MKO Abiola, winner of the June 12 1993 presidential election, Checkout Magazine learnt.
Also to benefit from the plan is Bashorun Abiola’s running mate in the historic election, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe.
According to The Nation, this plan will be proposed as an Executive Bill to National Assembly for passage.
Abiola, a billionaire businessman, won the election believed to be the freest and fairest in Nigeria history, with a pan-Nigerian mandate. But, the military government of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida annulled the results.
Abiola was incarcerated when he stood up to fight for the reclamation of his mandate. He died in custody on July 8, 1998.
However, President Muhammadu Buhari decided to honour the late Abiola by declaring June 12 Democracy Day in place of May 29; gave Abiola the highest national honour – Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) – posthumous and officially recognize his victory in that election. Kingibe was awarded the second national honour, The Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).
