June 12, 1993 to this moment seem just like
yesterday, but it is not just another calendar
day in Nigeria; because in progressive
ideological circles, today is regarded as the
authentic ‘Democracy Day’ as against the
‘May 29′ popularly celebrated by the federal
government.
12 Facts You Need To Know About M.K.O Abiola
Here are twelve important facts you need to
know about this date.
1. The date is celebrated in honour of an
annulled presidential election in June 12,
1993.
Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale
Abiola, often referred to as M. K. O.
Abiola, ran for the presidency in 1993,
and is widely regarded as the presumed
winner of the inconclusive election since
no official final results were announced
2. The election was annulled by Ibrahim
Babangida, because of alleged evidence
that they were corrupt and unfair, a
development that ushered in a political
crisis that led to General Sani Abacha
seizing power later that year.
3. In 1994, Abiola declared himself the
lawful president of Nigeria in the
Epetedo area of Lagos island, an area
mainly dominated by Lagos Indigenes,
after he returned from a trip to solicit
the support of the international
community for his mandate. After
declaring himself president he was
declared wanted and was accused of
treason and arrested on the orders of
military President General Sani Abacha,
who sent 200 police vehicles to bring him
into custody.
Moshood Abiola leaving a Black Maria van under
heavy armed guard
4. Moshood Abiola was detained for four
years, largely in solitary confinement
with a Bible, Qur'an, and fourteen guards
as companions.
5. Nigerian Pastor T.B. Joshua is said to
have predicted the annulment to Abiola
and warned him against contesting
6. Abiola's involvement in politics started
at a young age. He was 19-years-old
when he joined the National Council of
Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) in
1979.
7. For the June 12, 1993 presidential
elections, Abiola's running mate was
Baba Gana Kingibe. He overwhelmingly
defeated his rival, Bashir Tofa of the
National Republican Convention.
8. Abiola died on July 7, 1998 on the day
he was due to be released from
incarceration under suspicious
circumstances shortly after the death of
General Abacha. The official autopsy
stated that Abiola died of natural causes,
but Abacha's chief security officer, Al-
Mustapha alleged he was beaten to
death.
9. MKO Abiola used a ‘Hope’ campaign
which President Barrack Obama also
used.
Moshood Abiola's Hope '93 political manifesto
Many people may have paid attention to
the word ‘Hope’ being used to convey a
message of possibility during Obama’s
2008 election in America, but 15 years
before then in Africa’s most populous
nation, MKO Abiola became a rallying
figure for many Nigerians with his ‘Hope’
campaign.
10. MKO Abiola died for the June 12
mandate but he was not the only June 12
casualty as General Sani Abacha also died
in mysterious circumstances on June 8,
1998.
11. Chief MKO Abiola's memory is
celebrated in Nigeria and internationally.
June 12, remains a public holiday
in Lagos and Ogun states and other All
progressive Congress party states. MKO
Abiola Stadium was named in his
honour.
12. The election was declared Nigeria's
freest and fairest presidential election by
national and international observers,
with Abiola even winning in his
Northern opponent's home state.
June 12 is thus a day to remember chief
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola as
well as other democracy martyrs.
Source: Agb_arena
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