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The Federal Government has been urged to rename the Aso Rock Presidential Villa after the winner of June 12 1993 Presidential election, Chief M. K. O. Abiola.

A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Moshood Kasimawo who also supported the call for a Sovereign National Conference made the demand on the 19th anniversary of June 12 1993 Presidential election.

“June 12 is the real Democracy Day, I am calling on the Federal Government to declare it a national public holiday”, he said, adding that “we need to sit down and look at how we want the country to be governed, we should bring the best of our brains to chart a pathway for this country, we should also talk about the sharing formula, which is nothing to write home about”.

Family of the late M.K.O Abiola, a civil society organization, Coalition of Democratic Formations and other civil society groups also called on the Federal Government to truly immortalise Abiola by declaring him President.

The group also stated that it is the only and legitimate way to right the wrong done not only to Abiola but to Nigerians who have endured all the hardship inflicted by the State since the annulment of the 1993 Presidential election.

General Secretary of the coalition, Nelson Ekujumi noted that it was unfortunate the over 14 million votes were treasonably annulled by the military junta led by General Ibrahim Babangida and its conspirators.
The group however called that Nigeria should return to true federalism and convoke a sovereign National Conference.

Recently, President Goodluck Jonathan renamed the University of Lagos (UNILAG) after Chief M.K.O. Abiola but the decision was greeted by protests by students and authority of the institution.  The President has however written the Nigerian Senate to formerly ask for the name change against the wish of the majority of the stakeholders.

Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha told a Lagos High Court, Igbosere, on Tuesday that he was “technically present” where Abiola died.
Al-Mustapha, chief security officer to the late Head of State Gen. Sani Abacha, and Shofolahan, an aide to the late Kudirat, are both standing trial for the murder of the woman, wife of the late Chief MKO Abiola, Kudirat on June 4, 1996.
He had said Abiola was murdered by poisoned tea while having a meeting at the Aguda House in the presidential villa.
Earlier, while being led in evidence by his counsel, Olalekan Ojo, Al-Mustapha had also said Abiola slumped after the meeting and nobody among those arround him could lift him up.
At the resumed trial during cross-examination by the counsel for the prosecution, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), Al-Mustapha maintained that his “technical presence” at the place Abiola died was as good as his physical presence.
He said, “I was technically present when MKO Abiola died. I got and watched the video from a central recording by the people who were present with him. My technical presence by the virtue of my duty and profession is as good as my physical presence.” Punch