June 12: Buhari has brought healing, reconciliation to Nigeria, says Hafsat Abiola

Mrs Hafsat Abiola-Costello, daughter of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (M.K.O.) Abiola, the 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 M.K.O. 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 thought he would surely deliver the speech.
“You know he was a stammerer and he would start … ‘fellow Nigerians’ and he never really got past fellow Nigerians.
“He would say a few words and then reply not like that, and he would start again,’’ she stated.
According to her, his 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.