Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
Third Republic Senate President, Ameh Ebute, has said that himself, former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, alongside four others, suffered the most during the struggle to reclaim the June 12 presidential election won by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola.
Ebute confirmed acceptance of the invitation to attend the posthumous investiture of Abiola and others, tomorrow, but insisted that said himself, senators Bola Tinubu and Abu Ibrahim, are the only survivors out of six who were detained by the late General Sani Abacha.
Ebute disclosed this Daily Sun, against the backdrop of June 12 as Democracy Day, Abiola’s posthumous award and conferment of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on Baba Gana Kingibe as well as late Chief Gani Fawehinmi.
Ebute called on President Muhammadu Buhari to upturn the injustice by converting the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) conferred on them to GCON.
“We were the ones that suffered the most because myself, Bola Tinubu, senator Abu Ibrahim were put in prison by Abacha for 50 days; for asking that Abacha hand over to Abiola who won the election.
“As a result of that, six of us were put in detention at Alagbon Close. Three of us are dead now, but, three of us are alive. I was the Senate President then.
“The deceased are senators Polycarp Nwite, Mark Nwolu and Amadi Okoroafor from Abia. They were also detained and now dead.”
Ebute further said Buhari’s action rectified the injustice done to Abiola and the rest.
“It was a good performance by him, a masterstroke performance by him to rectify injustice in the country.”
Ebute also said he is in the process of writing Buhari, regarding his national honour.
“My national honour is not up to the one that my colleagues, former senate presidents got.
“I was given a national honour of CON, instead of GCON. So, that is the discrimination that I am writing against now,” Ebute said.