The family of late democracy activist Kudirat Olayinka Abiola has thanked President Tinubu for giving her a top national honour after her death.
Hafsat Abiola, Kudirat’s daughter, said the family felt overwhelmed by the President’s decision to award her mother the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR).
“There are no words to adequately express the depth of gratitude I feel at President Tinubu’s posthumous conferment of the merit of CFR on my mum, Kudirat Olayinka Abiola,” Hafsat said in a statement released on Friday.
Speaking for both the Adeyemi and Abiola families, she said her mother was driven by love and duty to defend her husband’s rights and work for Nigeria’s return to democracy.
Kudirat Abiola was killed in 1996 whilst fighting for recognition of the June 12, 1993, election won by her husband, Chief MKO Abiola. The military government had cancelled the election results.
Hafsat said her mother would have been “overwhelmed with joy to be so honoured.” She also thanked the President for recognising other heroes of the June 12 struggle.
The family hopes the award will encourage more Nigerians to serve their country. “May the conferment of this award serve to strengthen our collective resolve to respond unstintingly to the call of national service,” the statement said.
The CFR is one of Nigeria’s highest national honours. It is usually given to people who have made tremendous contributions to the country.
BusinessDay