Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has disclosed how the presidential candidate of National Republican Convention (NRC), Bashir Tofa resisted pressure from some politicians to contest result of the June 12, 1993 elections and decided to congratulate MKO Abiola even before the announcement of the result.
The Senior Lawyer who made the disclosure on Wednesday while appearing on Channels Television programme, Sunrise Daily, urged President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government to recognize other Nigerians who played a part in the struggle against the annulled June 12, 1993, election.
He specifically said the federal government should go beyond conferring national honours on Abiola and late activist, Gani Fawehinmi, and “identify other heroes of that struggle from all over the country. This was not a NADECO and Afenifere affair (alone).
“The point has been made abundantly clear, after that election, Bashir Tofa, the other candidate congratulated his opponent, and that is what is done in any civilized society; he was under pressure to go to the tribunal, but he said no.
“From that moment, the civil society came in; the progressive trade unions came in and made the country ungovernable for the dictator.
“The beauty of those who are coming from the civil society who have found themselves either in the executive or the legislature is to ensure that those ideals are actualized and implemented in government. That is why June 12 is so significant.”
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