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Six years on, activists remember M.K.O.
Sakibu Olokojobi and Waheed Adebayo
Except for the presence of a few human rights activists, July 7, 2004, the sixth anniversary of the death of Chief Moshood Abiola, would have passed for any other day in the expansive Ikeja, Lagos home of the business mogul and the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
The well-known members of the family were not available on Wednesday. Abiola�s second wife, Bisi, was said to have travelled abroad for medical treatment.
The situation, however, changed when one of the widows, Remi, arrived and ushered in the activists who were led by Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti, into the compound.
The activists from the Campaign for Democracy and Committee for the Defence of Human Rights extolled the virtues of Abiola, saying he was courageous and steadfast in the struggle to claim his mandate to be president of Nigeria.
But teary-eyed, Remi, bemoaned the failure of friends and associates of Abiola to mark his six years anniversary, saying it was an injustice to his memory.
The widow added that it was disheartening that nobody cared to show interest in the anniversary of the death of Abiola.
She said such a failure by Abiola�s associates to mark the anniversary was a clear injustice to his memory.
�To me, it is injustice to the memory of Abiola. What are we talking about? Barely six years after his death, Ikeja is dry. Nobody could remember him, nobody could even spare him today to be here in his memory. It is an injustice that Nigeria has done to the family.
�We know sacrifices must be made but�so, somebody of MKO�s calibre could die just like that and he would not be remembered barely six years after his death.
�It means that in 20 years nobody will remember MKO in Nigeria again.
�I think this is a great injustice to his memory. Whatever they are organising anywhere should start from here because this is where he lived.
�I thank you the few that are able to remember him I thank you all. May God be with you.�
At the graveside of Abiola, Ransome-Kuti described him as an unusual hero, adding that it was regrettable that the military and the caliphate frustrated his mandate to become the nation�s president.
Ransome-Kuti who reviewed the travails the politician went through before his death, said Abiola became steadfast and courageous in the struggle to claim his mandate when he realised that majority of those he considered to be his friends and associates were only after his money.
He said, �We are all witnesses to the problems and sufferings he went through in prison, in detention; when his enemies tried to humiliate him by bringing him to court over 100 kilometres anyway in a Black Maria; somebody who was used to an easy life. But he bore all his travails steadfastly and with courage.
�When Abacha died and political prisoners were being released, all of us said at that time that the first political prisoner who should have been released was Bashorun M.K.O Abiola, but unfortunately we did not realise at that time that those people had their own dark plans they wanted to actualise.
�None of us did expect that they were going to kill him, but unfortunately for us that happened.
�But be that as it may, we knew that for good four years, he stood firm to his mandate and refused to relinquish it. For that reason, and for his great contribution to the so-called democracy, we should be enjoying by now, we mourn him today, but salute his courage and salute his steadfastness. May his soul rest in perfect peace.�
Another human rights activist, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, said it was unfortunate that Nigeria was celebrating the murderers of Abiola while forgetting to remember what Abiola stood for.
He said that it was regrettable that former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, was being touted as one of those that could become president in 2007.
He said if Babangida ruled for eight years and made the situation in the country worse, he was no longer fit to rule the country.
Igbokwe described Abiola as the man who fought for the relative freedom Nigeria was enjoying at the moment.
Also present at the occasion were the Secretary of the CD, Dr. Joe Odumakin; one of Abiola�s daughters, Tundun; and the Financial Secretary of the CD, Mr. Banji Ajayi.
Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Abdul Lateef Adegbite, has berated the Federal Government for failing to honour Abiola.
Speaking at the 6th Fidau Prayer held in honour of the late business mogul, Adegbite said that he had continued to nurse a deep regret and grievances that Abiola who sacrificed his life, comfort and wealth so that the seed of democracy might grow in the country was yet to be properly acknowledged by the government.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government has declared July 7 of every year as public holiday in honour of the late Abiola.
The state governor, Otunba Gbenga Deniel, disclosed this in Abeokuta.
He also said that his government would continue to assist the family of the late acclaimed winner of the June 12 presidential election.
The Punch, Thursday July 08, 2004
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