Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Dr (Mrs) Joe Okei-Odumakin among other rights activists have called on President Goodluck Jonathan to post-humously recognise the acclaimed winner of June 12 1993 election, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola as Nigerian democratically elected president.

Soyinka and others made known their stance in Lagos on yesterday at the laying of wreath at the tomb of the late business mogul in commemoration of the 14th year of his death.

Soyinka whose speech was read at the event said it has become expedient to recognise Abiola because despite the tribulations he was subjected to in an attempt to reclaim his mandate, the late businessman persevered.

He said, “Let that fact be enshrined in the nation’s record, then we would have embarked on one of the tributaries to the amplitude of true national reconciliation. Chained, immobilised, isolated and beset by uncertainties, Moshood Abiola proved himself the personification of rare political courage.

“This nation owes him. All who have held and hold office today since his death are permanently indebted to him, and to his terminal sacrifice. It is a moral demand that the incumbent president exercise a fraction of his exemplary courage, and re-establish Abiola, albeit posthumously as Nigeria’ democratically elected President.”

In his remark, the vice presidential candidate of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) during 2011 general elections and convener Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare said whether there is formal recognition or not for Abiola, there will be a generation of Nigerians who will accord him due respect.”

In her speech, the president Women Arise and Coalition for Democracy (CD), Dr (Mrs) Joe Okei-Odumakin listed five conditions the present administration must meet in honouring Abiola for his sacrifice to Nigeria.

spyx64: Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Dr (Mrs) Joe Okei-Odumakin among other rights activists have called on President Goodluck Jonathan to post-humously recognise the acclaimed winner of June 12 1993 election, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola as Nigerian democratically elected president.

Soyinka and others made known their stance in Lagos on yesterday at the laying of wreath at the tomb of the late business mogul in commemoration of the 14th year of his death.

Soyinka whose speech was read at the event said it has become expedient to recognise Abiola because despite the tribulations he was subjected to in an attempt to reclaim his mandate, the late businessman persevered.

He said, “Let that fact be enshrined in the nation’s record, then we would have embarked on one of the tributaries to the amplitude of true national reconciliation. Chained, immobilised, isolated and beset by uncertainties, Moshood Abiola proved himself the personification of rare political courage.

“This nation owes him. All who have held and hold office today since his death are permanently indebted to him, and to his terminal sacrifice. It is a moral demand that the incumbent president exercise a fraction of his exemplary courage, and re-establish Abiola, albeit posthumously as Nigeria’ democratically elected President.”

In his remark, the vice presidential candidate of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) during 2011 general elections and convener Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare said whether there is formal recognition or not for Abiola, there will be a generation of Nigerians who will accord him due respect.”

In her speech, the president Women Arise and Coalition for Democracy (CD), Dr (Mrs) Joe Okei-Odumakin listed five conditions the present administration must meet in honouring Abiola for his sacrifice to Nigeria.

They said Jonathan restricted MKO to the western part alone. Everyone at the ceremony are all from the west.
Mrs Joe, please safe your breathe this government is not interested in your conditions.

Never knew Soyinka loved MKO that much. But why is he then against honouring him with the change of name of unilag to maulag?

Just wondering what Soyinka is doing in the midst of those hypocrites. Smh

warrior01: Just wondering what Soyinka is doing in the midst of those hypocrites. Smh

he rolled with the same 'hypocrites' when they were liberating your monkey from turai's kitchen

Alxmyr:

They said Jonathan restricted MKO to the western part alone. Everyone at the ceremony are all from the west.
Mrs Joe, please safe your breathe this government is not interested in your conditions.

Classic

A fellow said something on this forum which I agree. The true lovers of Abiola are his family and a few which are unknown. Abiola cronies in the likes of the Bolas are mere propagandists who use Abiola misfortunes as a tool for ethnic politics. A man that cannot be named after a mere university should now be named as an ex president even when he wasn‘t sworn in. smh. Kongi let me down on this one. He should named ex pope or saint abiola or portrait on all our currencies. A farouk that never was.

I‘m not surprised with bakare

Why are Soyinka and Bakare always in the game of steering controversies.. Am in different whether MKO Iis declared an ex- pres or not... But we must learn to acknowledge him in little ways first before that.... These same men were part of the people that called GEJ names when Unilag was renamed after the same man... You see how people dwindle their popularity and belittle their opinions?SMH