The official memorial body of Martin Luther King Jr., The King Center, established in 1968 by Mrs. Coretta Scott King, wife of the renowned American activist, has distanced itself from the award presented to Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari.
Personal assistant to President Buhari’s on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, had announced on social media that Buhari received the First Black History Month National Black Excellence and Exceptional African Leadership Award 2018 from the family of Late Martin Luther King Jr.
“Dr. Mrs. Naomi Barbara King led other members of the African-American body to the conferment,” she said.
PRESIDENT BUHARI RECEIVES The First Black History Month National Black Excellence and Exceptional African Leadership Award 2018 from MARTIN LUTHER KING'S JNR FAMILY.
Dr Mrs Naomi Barbara King led other members of the… https://t.co/pg88Yds9o2Advertisement
— Lauretta Onochie (@Laurestar) March 26, 2018
Reacting to the development, The King Center posted on its official Twitter handle that neither the Center, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, nor the children of Martin Luther King Jr. presented the award to Buhari.
“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 Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King,” the tweet read.
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
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— The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center (@TheKingCenter) March 28, 2018
Dr. Mrs. Naomi Barbara King, as quoted by the Buhari’s aide, is actually Mrs. Naomi Ruth Barber King (Dr.), wife of Alfred Daniel Williams “A. D.” King, who is the youngest son of Martin Luther King, Sr.
TheNewsGuru reports Mrs. Naomi Ruth Barber King (Dr.) is the founder of A. D. King Foundation that was established in 2008.