Twenty years after, Chief Mubashiru Abiola, the younger brother of the late winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Basorun Moshood Abiola urged Nigerians not to link the former military president, Ibrahim Babangida with the death of their breadwinner. Read more
Abiola spoke yesterday during the 20th anniversary of the annulment of the election.
He also called on the Federal Government to pay the debt, which, he said the government owed the family.
The late Abiola’s younger brother spoke just as the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun urged the Federal Government to make June 12 of every year, a national day and declare it a public holiday to commemorate the day.
According to Amosun, by so doing, such a gesture would further give good expression to the wordings of Nigeria’s national anthem that the labours of the country’s past should never be in vain.
According to Mubashiru, it would be erroneous for anybody or group to link the death of their breadwinner with Babangida, whom, he said, was not in government at the time of Abiola’s death.
His words: “I don’t believe that Babangida was the one that killed MKO. No. Everybody knew that Babangida was not in the government then, when M KO died. How could you say that somebody who is not somewhere that he did something? It is not possible, Babangida does not know anything about the death of M K O.’’
He recalled that Babangida outside power had been supportive of the Abiola family. “Yes, Babangida did it. He did anything we want in this family, unless he did not know, he will come. He has been supporting this family. He always supports the family.
“I want to state unequivocally that General Babangida’s administration remains the best ever in the nation’s history, and I implore our current administrators at the various level of governance to embrace the vision of June 12, by ensuring that every Nigerian family gets food on their tables and shelters on their heads, all employable youths get jobs, while the nooks and crannies of the federation enjoy the basic amenities.”
While appreciating the former governor of the state, Aremo Olusegun Osoba for what he described as “steadfastly helpful to the Abiola family,” Mubashiru said there was a lot that President Goodluck Jonathan ought to have done for the family, but yet to be done.
‘’I take advantage of today’s 20th anniversary of June 12, to request President Jonathan to invite the MKO Abiola family to a meeting to deliberate on how the Federal Government intends to settle the debts owed that political icon, business mogul and symbol of our modern day democracy.”
The Abiola family described Governor Ibikunle Amosun as an icon of democracy, saying he towered among others.
“Amosun towers amongst others, for the courage he has shown in transforming Ogun State to a modern one comparable to world class areas. I am sure Bashorun MKO Abiola is happy with you, go on with the good works.”
While appreciating Nigerians across the states, particularly in the South West for keeping the hope alive, Mubashiru said he had put forward, estimates for the rehabilitation of the 25 flats country home of the late Bashorun MKO Abiola at Sabo area of Abeokuta, the state capital.
Amosun after about five hour trek across Abeokuta, ended the walk at the MKO Abiola Stadium, where different groups across the state showed solidarity for the June 12 election.
While the trekking made a stop over at the family home of Abiolas at Ita Oje, Abeokuta, the governor urged the Federal Government in collaboration with members of the National Assembly to give national recognition to the late icon of democracy.
“He was never a sectional leader. Rather, he was a visionary and national leader, whose contributions to national development cuts across all tribes and cities, towns and villages.
On our own part here in Ogun State, we are working round the clock to sustain the legacy of Chief MKO Abiola as entrenched in the ‘Hope 93’ manifesto. We have beaten all imaginations by coming up with a realistic and workable five cardinal programmes encapsulated in our mission to rebuild Ogun State.”
Culled from Sunnewspaper
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