Dipo Olowookere
By Dipo Olowookere
The family of late Martin Luther King Jnr has denied giving an award to President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria.
On Monday, the Presidency publicised a visit by purported members of the late American activist, who fought for rights of African-American.
During the meeting, President Buhari was conferred with the first Black History Month National Black Excellence and Exceptional African Leadership Award 2018.
Mr Buhari even announced this through his official and verified Twitter handle, saying, “President @MBuhari today at the State House received Martin Luther King Jnr’s family. He was also conferred with the 1st Black History Month National Black Excellence and Exceptional African Leadership Award 2018. #AsoVillaToday.”
But days after the said visit, the family of Mr King Jnr dissociated themselves from the visit and award, saying it never came from them.
The family, through The King Centre, tweeted yesterday that, “The award given to President Buhari of Nigeria was not given by The King Center, at the request of The King Center or by the children of #MLK and #CorettaScottKing. @MrFixNigeria.”
This Wednesday night tweet has caused uproar on social media with some asking how the Presidency allowed itself to be ‘duped.’
Others said this was very embarrassing to the country at large and called for authorities to fish out those behind this.
