June 12,1993 will forever be remembered by Nigerians. That day, Nigerians trooped out en masse to voted in Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola,CFR
the adjudged winner of the most free and fair election in nigeria history.
IN THE BEGINNING
b MKO Abiola's involvement in politics started early on in life when he joined the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons
(NCNC) at age 19. In 1979, the military government kept its word and
handed over power to the civilian. As Abiola was already involved in
politics, he joined the ruling National Party of Nigeria
(NPN) in 1980 and was elected the state chairman of his party.
Re-election was done in 1983 and everything looked promising since the
re-elected president was from Abiola's party and based on the true
transition to power in 1979; Abiola was eligible to go for the post of
presidential candidate after the tenure of the re-elected president.
However, his hope to become the president was shortly dashed away for
the first time in 1983 when a military coup d'état swept away the
re-elected president of his party and ended civilian rule in the
country. After a decade of military rule, General Ibrahim Babangida came
under pressure to return democratic rule to Nigeria. After an aborted
initial primary, Abiola stood for the presidential nomination of the
Social Democratic Party (SDP) and beat Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe and
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to secure the presidential nomination of the SDP
ahead of the 12 June 1993 presidential elections. Abiola had managed to
work his way out of poverty through hard work and symbolised the
aspirations of many downtrodden Nigerians. His commitment to the plight
of ordinary Nigerians included establishing Abiola bookshops to provide
affordable, locally produced textbooks in the 1980s when imported
textbooks became out of the reach of ordinary Nigerians as the Naira was devalued. He also made available daily necessities such as rice and soap at affordable prices in the market.
HOPE '93 ELECTION
·
Many people
may have paid attention to the word ‘Hope’ being used to convey a message of
possibility during Obama’s 2008 election in America, but 15 years before then
in Africa’s most populous nation, MKO Abiola became a rallying figure for many
Nigerians with his ‘Hope’ campaign.
·
In 1993,
MKO won the presidential election which was later annulled by the outgoing Head
of State, General Ibrahim Babangida. This led to the popular June 12 agitation
and riots engulfed the whole nation. Abiola was later thrown in jail by General
Sanni Abacha under frivolous claims of treason.
·
The
election was declared Nigeria’s freest and fairest presidential election by
national and international observers, with Abiola even winning in his Northern
opponent’s home state.
· Moshood Abiola was detained for four years, largely in solitary confinement with a Bible, Qur’an, and fourteen guards as companions.
· Moshood Abiola was detained for four years, largely in solitary confinement with a Bible, Qur’an, and fourteen guards as companions.
·
Abiola
died on July 7, 1998 on the day he was due to be released from incarceration
under suspicious circumstances shortly after the death of General Abacha. The
official autopsy stated that Abiola died of natural causes, but Abacha’s chief
security officer, Al-Mustapha alleged he was beaten to death.
·
On
Tuesday July 7, 1998, Abiola’s death was announced, leading to widespread
protests across the country. Abiola died 30 days after the demise of the late
dictator, Abacha who had passed on under controversial circumstances on the
night of June 8, 1998.
·
Chief
MKO Abiola’s memory is celebrated in Nigeria and internationally. June 12,
remains a public holiday in Lagos and Ogun states and other All
progressive Congress party states. MKO Abiola Stadium was named in
his honor.
·
He was
awarded the third highest national honor, the Commander of the Federal
Republic posthumously in 1998.
Thanks for the memory, nicw one.
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