Hafsat Abiola-Costello, daughter of the late acclaimed winner of June 12 1993 presidential election, Moshood Abiola, on Tuesday disclosed that her father rehearsed his inauguration speech before the election was annulled by the military rule of General Ibrahim Babangida.
The speech was never given because Abiola was arrested while campaigning to claim the mandate given to him in what is regarded as the freest and fairest election ever held in Nigeria.
He eventually died in prison.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday officially conferred Abiola with the highest national honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) posthumously.
According to Hafsat-Costello President Buhari has brought reconciliation and healing to Nigeria by recognising her father.
The human rights activist, who spoke in an emotion-laden speech during her father’s investiture in Abuja, thanked the Federal Government for the conferment of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on her father.
She said that the award to her father and other Nigerians meant so much to her.
The 43-year-old was invited by her older 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 MKO 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 taught he would surely deliver the speech.
“You know he was a stammer and he would start … fellow Nigerians and he never really got pass 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.
