Daily Independent Online.
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Wednesday, June 16, 2004.
My father didn’t die in vain - Abiola-Edewor
By Habib Aruna
Assistant Political Editor, Lagos
As the nation last weekend marked the anniversary of
the 11th anniversary of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election won by
the late Chief MKO Abiola, his daughter, Mrs. Lola Abiola-Edewor, has said her
father did not die in vain insofar as the ideals for which he fought continue
to dominate the political scene.
Abiola-Edewor, who represents Apapa Federal
Constituency at the House of Representatives, said June 12 would continue to be
part of her because, according to her, it was the beginning of the end for
Chief Moshood Abiola, her father.
“For me, the day will continue to be part of my
life”, she said while speaking with Daily Independent during the
commemoration of this year’s anniversary held at the Opebi, Lagos office
of Hope 93. “For me, it’s personal, it cannot be wished away. It is
real and it is the reason why I don’t have a father,” she added.
Abiola-Edewor maintained that it is not possible for
any elected official to be unconcerned with the relevance of June 12, adding
that “once you are a democrat, you must believe in June 12”.
Even then, she said that her family had forgiven the
arrow-head of the annulment, General Ibrahim Babangida, and that since her
father did not hold malice, the family had decided to toe that line and move
forward with their lives. “We are moving ahead with our lives hoping that
things will get better”, she said.
She advised Nigerians not to be in a hurry to reap
the gains of democracy, adding that it is a long process. “Democracy is a
long process, in fact, none of us will see the end of democracy. Even if it has
been hijacked by a few people, it is a temporary setback. The process must not
be allowed to be truncated, no matter what. I believe that what he (Abiola)
died for will be realised, it is a matter of time. We cannot force the next
man, we can only do our best,” she added.
It would be recalled that Abiola-Edewor was among the
few people the General Abdulsalami Abubakar regime gave access to see Abiola in
1998 before he eventually died.
