By SEGUN AYINDE, ABEOKUTA
A son of the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential poll, Abdulmumini Abiola, has urged the Federal Government to adopt his father’s manifesto on poverty alleviation in a bid to remove stigma that places Nigeria as the poverty capital of the world.
Abdulmumini, who hinted that MKO Abiola died a happy man while fighting for democracy, said the declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day confirmed the fact that his father fought a just cause.
He said this while delivering an address on behalf of Abiola’s family at a programme marking Democracy Day in Ogun State.
He commended the Federal Government for recognising June 12 as the nation’s democracy day, noting that such decision would mark the beginning of true democracy in the land.
Abdulmumini, however, asked the FG to take measures that could reduce poverty in the country so as to ease the suffering of the people.
He said the decision of General Ibrahim Babaginda to annul the freest and fairest election on June 12, 1993 came as a shock to the entire Abiola’s family.
Describing Babaginda and his late father as close friends, he said, “Today is a historic day. The actualisation of the long battle and campaign for justification of June 12 as Democracy Day has finally come to fruition. The event of June 12 marked the freest and fairest elections held in Nigeria at the time.
“The decision of General Ibrahim Babaginda to annul the election was a surprise to both my family and the Nigerian people in general because my dad and the General (Babaginda) were close friends.
“But, I was so proud that Chief MKO Abiola was able to stand for what he believed to be true. It is important we do this when you find that justice is supposed to be done especially in a country like Nigeria where so many people are suffering.
We need to be just with one another.
“It is a day of reflection; I do not intend to celebrate this day. I intend to reflect on where we are as a nation; where we intend to go and where my children will be.”
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, who was represented on the occasion by the Deputy Governor, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele, said his administration would incorporate the vision of Abiola in his government.
He urged political leaders to let the sacrifice that Abiola made on democracy count through good governance and by rededicating themselves to nation building.
The governor said that Abiola did not only fight for the entrenchment of democracy but also sacrificed his life for it.
He said, “It was creating an equitable society and enlarging opportunities for individual and societal development that Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola stood and died for. We vow to bring this vision to fruition in Ogun State.
“I charge all our political actors not to lose sight of the significance of June 12, 1993. So much labour and struggles have been invested in order to ensure the attainment and the survival of democracy that we now enjoy.
“We are determined to entrench good governance which will further enhance the quality of life of our people. Just as Chief MKO Abiola was neither a sectional leader nor biased in his dealings with everyone he came across, we vow to enthrone transparency in our efforts at taking Ogun State to the height as envisioned by our forebears.”
