Activists mark 19th anniversary of Abiola’s death

Rights activists yesterday in Lagos reiterated the need for the Federal Government to name a key national institution or infrastructure after the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola as a way of immortalising him.

The activists repeated the call at the 19th anniversary of the death of Abiola at a programme organised by Women Arise for Change Initiative (WA) held at his graveside in Ikeja.

They also urged the government to give the late business mogul and politician a posthumous recognition as the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Abiola, after the annulment of the election by the military regime of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, insisted on his mandate and declared himself president a year later, leading to his arrest by the then military government of the late Gen. Sani Abacha.

He died four years later in custody on the verge of being released by Abacha’s successor, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), president of WA, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, said 19 years after his death, Nigerians want his posthumous recognition for his portrait to be displayed among past Nigerian presidents and heads of state.

“We demand a judicial commission of inquiry to unravel how the high treason was carried out in custody.

“Finally, we demand the immediate restructuring of Nigeria into proper federation to douse the agitations that have engulfed the country, following the escalation of the nationality question occasioned by the annulment,” Okei-Odumakin said.

A former military governor of Imo and Lagos states, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd), also called for the immortalisation of Abiola and the restructuring of Nigeria into a proper federation.

“Let us all know that 19 years after, Abiola’s spirit still lives and is very active,” he said.

Abiola’s youngest son, Abdulmumini, urged Nigerians to take their destiny in their hands, adding: “My father tried his best and today here he is lying dead. Why do we continue to listen to the people that put us in this state that we are right now?

“Nineteen years after my father’s death, they are not better off. We need a paradigm change in this country and that is why we must take our destiny into our hands.”

President of Concerned Nigeria and Professional Forum, Mr. Emeka Ugoji, described Abiola as an entrepreneur with a social conscience.

Other speakers at the event include Rasheed Owonifari, Head of Finance and Administration for Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) and Abdul Usman Bako, president of Campaign for Democracy (CD).

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, in 2012, renamed the University of Lagos after Abiola, but the change was met with protests by the students and alumni of the institution and became a subject of litigation until the renaming was reversed.