…As Joe Odumakin calls for posthumous declaration of late business mogul as Nigeria’s president
Governor Ibikunle Amosun, eminent personalities and other citizens of Ogun State, on Monday, staged a walk across the capital city of Abeokuta to mark the June 12 celebration in honour of the late Chief M. K. O Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential election in the country.
The walk tagged “Democracy Walk: Lets walk the Hope,” also had in attendance the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun; President, Women Arise, Joe Okey-Odumakin; and Afenifere spokesman, Yinka Odumakin.
Others, who participated in the walk, included the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga; Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Suraj Adekunbi; a former governor of Kwara State, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, commissioners, top government functionaries, human rights groups, transport unions, market women and students.
The democracy walk led by Amosun started at about 7:00am at the June 12 Cultural Center, Abeokuta, with the personalities walking around major streets in the capital and ending the exercise at about 9:40am at the Oke Ido family house of the late business mogul.
At Abiola’s family house, a short ceremony and prayers were held .
While speaking, Amosun stated that without M. K. O. Abiola, the present democracy, which Nigerians now enjoy would have been impossible.
He noted that the event cut across Southwest geo-political zone, other parts of Nigeria and the entire Africa.
According to him late Abiola remained the only president Nigerians elected, but was never allowed to govern the country.
He said, “He (Abiola) laboured so much for us. He paid the supreme price for Nigeria’s democracy. The struggle he died for transcends Abeokuta, Ogun State, South West and Africa, too, and we are happy about that. Nigerians trust him and that is why they voted for him. It is a history we must continue to recognise. He was the president elected, but denied the opportunity to govern.
” He lives on. We (office holders) must toe the path Abiola toed. M.K.O will continue to live on and generations will come to know what June 12 is all about. June 12 will continue. I am for it (restructuring) but we must do it in a way that Nigeria will be indivisible.”
The governor, therefore, assured that the state would continue the celebration of June 12 in honour of Abiola, adding that the next celebration of the event would be beyond a walk exercise.
On her part, Joe-Odumakin charged the Federal government to make a posthumous declaration of Abiola as the President of Nigeria.
The President, Women Arise, lamented that the June 12 presidential election, in Nigerians voted across tribal and religious lines, was a watershed because of the ultimate price Abiola paid for democracy to thrive in the country .
“June 12 is our own watershed. June 12 votes cut across tribal and religious lines, it helps in promoting national integrity. June 12 was about three choices. It was non violent, it was a rainy day and people went out in a non-violent approach. MKO defeated Bashiru Tofa in his own place. So, Nigerians set aside colonial interest and overwhelming voted for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“24 years after June 12, we want to insist that there should be a post-humous declaration of MKO Abiola as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. June 12 will be declared our democracy day.
” I also want to say this in the spirit of June 12, we cannot move forward until we restructure Nigeria. As we are gathered here today, I want us to know that MKO died for us. So, it is our collective responsibility to keep the spirit of MKO Abiola alive. MKO Abiola paid the ultimate price; so he lives forever “. she said.
The Publicity Secretary of Campaign for Democracy, Mr. Sunday Ogunyinka, said that the spirit of June 12 still lived on, saying, ” You can kill a soul, but you can’t kill the June 12 legacy.”
The spokesperson of the Afenifere Renewal Group, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said that the June 12 celebrations showed that Abiola remained alive.
“The memory we are celebrating today shows that MKO is alive, the spirit is alive, June 12 is alive, the issues raised by June 12 are still very much with us and if we realise this, with a restructured Nigeria, it will make Nigeria better for all nationalities and all in the country,” he said.
To the former governor of Kwara State, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, the memory of Abiola cannot be erased in the history of democracy in Nigeria .
Speaking on behalf of the family, Alhaji Tajudeen Abiola, who lauded Amosun for supporting the family, explained that when his elder brother, Bashiru, was ill, the governor flew him abroad for medical treatment .
“The government has been supporting us. The governor always helps us and all his team, too. Whenever they hear you are from Abiola’s family, they always help. We really thank the governor for his support always”, he said.
