President Muhammadu Buhari has received praise from the incoming president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his decision to honor Chief M.K.O. Abiola in recognition of the June 12, 1993 elections. According to Tinubu, the action was a courageous move on the part of Buhari to correct the record and sooth festering wounds.

In his address after receiving the honor of being named the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR), the incoming president gave some thought to this.

He said that Buhari’s choice to honor Abiola was courageous and something that many in the past would have avoided.

Tinubu said, “President Buhari, you have shown courage in taking tough decisions others avoided, on such decisions is to recognise the injustice of the annulment of 1993 elections. To designate June 12 as a democracy day, and to bestow the nation’s highest honour on Chief M.K.O Abiola.

“As much as anyone could, you reached back into history to set the records straight and heal the festering wounds. The justice you did lends special meaning to today as the people have put their trust in us. You have done your part, Mr. President; now a great duty will descend on me.”

On May 29, Tinubu will take the oath of office as leader of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.