President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja offered unreserved apology on behalf of federal government to the family of Mr Moshood Abiola, over the annulment of June 12 1993 poll, presumably won by late Abiola.

The president apologised at the Special National Honours Investiture and award presentation to heroes of June 12, 1993 annulled by the defunct Ibrahim Babangida regime.

He said the decision to hold the event was not to open old wounds but to bury negative sides of June 12 and its ill-feelings, hates, frustration and agony.

He, therefore, called on all Nigerians across national divides to accept the annulment of the June 12, 1993 poll in good faith.

“I honestly invite all Nigerians across all our national divides to accept it in good faith. Our action today is to bury the negative sides of June 12, the side of ill feelings, hates, frustration and agony.

“What we are doing is celebrating and appreciating the positive sides of June 12.

“The June 12 which reinstates democracy and freedom, the June 12 that overcome our various divides and the June 12 that produces unity and national cohesion.

“This is the June 12 we are celebrating today and we will nurture it to our next generation

“Accordingly, on behalf of the Federal Government, I tender the nation’s apology to the family of late MKO Abiola who got the highest votes and to those that lost their loved ones in the course of June 12 struggle,’’ he said.

Mr Buhari asked for minute silence in honour of late Abiola and those that lost lives in the struggle for actualization of June 12

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo tendered an apology for not being present at the event because of his involvement in a book launch outside the country.

Former President Ibrahim Babangida equally tendered similar apology for his absence because of some prevailing issues touching on his health conditions.

NAN