Kola Abiola, the first son of the late billionaire businessman Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, issued what he described as a comprehensive response to the recently published book by former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida. In his statement, he urged the federal government to formally honour individuals who were either killed or imprisoned during the military regime of General Sani Abacha.
According to THISDAYLIVE, he specifically mentioned Alhaja Kudirat Abiola and Chief Alfred Rewane among others, citing them as key figures in the NADECO struggle. He also highlighted the contributions and sacrifices of journalists and activists such as Mohammed Adamu, Alao Aka-Bashorun, Mr. Olu Akerele, Col. Olu Bamgbose (rtd), and Mr. Frank Kokori.
Kola pointed out that former President Muhammadu Buhari took notable steps to honour the legacy of June 12, recalling that Buhari’s administration designated June 12 as National Democracy Day in 2018, replacing May 29, which had been the preferred date under President Olusegun Obasanjo. He also noted that the Abuja National Stadium was renamed MKO Abiola Stadium in 2019. In contrast, he remarked that Obasanjo, during his eight years in office, did not acknowledge or honour June 12 or MKO Abiola.
He called on the current administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take responsibility for correcting the injustices of the past, emphasizing that this process had begun under Buhari and should now be completed. Kola also proposed the establishment of a national register for previously unnamed victims of the June 12 annulment crisis, as well as the creation of a national monument to commemorate that period in Nigeria’s history.
Expressing concern that the nation had not learned any meaningful lessons from the June 12 experience, he recommended incorporating a factual and comprehensive account of the events surrounding June 12 into the national educational curriculum. He maintained that beyond recognising the victims, Nigeria owed future generations an honest and unaltered account of this critical chapter in the country’s history.
He stressed that this was particularly important given that 65 per cent of Nigeria’s population consists of young people, who represent the nation’s future. Additionally, he criticised Babangida for failing to disclose the identities of those who allegedly pressured him into annulling the 1993 elections, describing it as disappointing that a military general would claim to be afraid of death.
“After 32 years out of office, one wonders why IBB believes that the living culprits should still remain nameless. He found it easy to name Abacha, who is late and can’t defend himself from the grave, but struggles to apologise or properly own up to the truth and consequences of his action.
“In his 420-page memoir, he states that if he had gone ahead and upheld the results of the June 12 election, there was a threat to his life and that of MKO. Thirty Two years after, he is alive to write and launch and benefit from his memoirs, while MKO was consumed by the whole ordeal.
Kola Abiola remarked on the irony of the situation, pointing out that a battle-tested General and former Military President who had ruled for eight and a half years and survived at least one violent coup attempt claimed to be afraid of death. In contrast, he noted that a civilian like MKO Abiola had faced the associated dangers with courage and determination.
He argued that, if for no other reason than the tragic loss of MKO Abiola, the individuals responsible—whether dead or alive—should have been named, even 32 years later, beginning with the unnamed Lieutenant General. Failing to do so, he asserted, would only reinforce the perception that the entire episode was driven by a desire for self-preservation and Ibrahim Babangida’s ambition to cling to power.
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