M.K.O ABIOLA, IN FAIRNESS AND EQUITY

For all my esteemed readers who know not much about this great man, He lived in a time when justice had different meanings. He was one who kept his head, when others were losing theirs. On this day, 20 years ago, he won Nigeria’s yet freest and fairest election. Sadly, he wasn't allowed to live long enough to fulfill his promises.

Nigerians put behind them the myth about ethnic and religious divide. One of the two parties that Babangida created the Social Democratic Party – (the other being the National Republican Convention – NRC) had two Muslim candidates, Moshood Abiola (from Ogun State in the South-West) and his running mate, Babagana Kingibe (from Borno State in the North-East). It didn’t matter. Abiola defeated Bashir Tofa, the presidential candidate of the NRC, (a Muslim from Kano in the North-West) in his home constituency.

That was how sophisticated the electorate was 20 years ago. June 12, 1993 mattered because for the first time in the post-independence electoral history of Nigeria, there was no focus on religion or ethnicity. For the first and only time Nigerians were going to have a president they actually voted for. There were hardly any reports of electoral violence. Even the elements (no rainfall throughout the election in the rainy month of June) conspired to deny IBB a reason to stop the election.

June 12 this year marks the 20th anniversary of Babangida’s failed diabolical political experiment. The country has come full circle. Today, the remnants of that perfidious era still call the shots in our so-called democratic order.

My question is what really happened to M.K.O?

Even the best analysts and the most honest journalists this country possess haven’t given us a candid answer. The worst part is not lying to over 160 million Nigerians who withstood the elements to put those in power, in power, it is showing we Nigerians that we aren’t worth the truth! We, the future of this great country DESERVE AND WANT the truth!!! The powers that be must appreciate the fact that they cannot sweep things under the carpet forever and that one day, no matter how long it takes, they will be held accountable by God and the Nigerian people for the morbid, secret and oftentimes homicidal choices and decisions that they made.

Rest in Peace, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (24th August 1937-8th July 1998)