MKO: 13 Years After An Empire Crumbles


IF Chief MKO Abiola had not died, or if he were not incarcerated, his farm enterprises in Nigeria would probably have had no rival today, a senior manager in Abiola’s business household said yesterday.

Shortly after the incarceration of the multi-billionaire businessman-turned politician in 1994, his business empire began to suffer serious setback.

His farm enterprises, dealing in biological products, which are sensitive because of their nature, spread across the North and South of the country, began to fall apart.

Rev. Olumide Oyediji, a top official of Abiola Farms, told The Guardian that the difficulty in gaining access to the chief executive officer of the farm enterprises, while Abiola was in detention, brought untold hardship to the farm businesses.

According to Oyediji, all of Abiola’s enterprises came under suspicion and close watch by the then military government of Gen. Sani Abacha. Major businesses such as Concord Airlines and Concord Press were closely monitored.

Like these and any other of his businesses, “it was not profitable to continue,” he said, adding that they could not raise loan facilities because Abiola could not be reached, even when he was needed to sign cheques.

Visits to some of Abiola’s businesses, including Concord Press, Concord Airlines, Abiola Farms and Wonder Loaf Bakery, among others, showed nothing but faded memories of the once-internationally acclaimed entrepreneur and philanthropist.

The same fate has befallen hisformerly bubbling and golden MKO Abiola Crescent, Ikeja, Lagos, home that was a Mecca of sorts.

However, while many respondents regret the state of Abiola’s once thriving businesses spread across the country, particularly the famed Abiola Farms; others take consolation in the realisation that Abiola’s good works, especially in philanthropy and the supreme sacrifice he gave for Nigeria’s democracy live forever.

Thus, they would want Abiola to be immortalized as a national hero by letting him adorn the national currency.

Oyedeji said that, “one of the mistakes Chief Abiola made was in the sole ownership of his businesses.”

He argued that if other stakeholders, from Nigeria and abroad, particularly foreign organisations, had been involved, the decision of the government to clamp down on Abiola would have touched other co-investors and stakeholders and would probably not have led to the death of those businesses in which they invested.

“Political adversaries terminated Abiola’s ambition, said Oyediji, who observed that, “if Abiola became president, we would not be saying what we are saying now; and if he had not gone into politics or he had been allowed to claim his mandate, he would have been the best farmer in Nigeria or in Africa.”

He listed Abiola farms in some states, including a small farm in Obada Oko in Ogun State, as the Southwest coordinating centre, and for pineapple project.

Elsewhere, the farm sizes were bigger, varying from a few hundreds to thousands of hectares of land.

On the Mambilla plateau in the present-day Taraba State, Oyediji hinted that Abiola Farms got a 5,000- hectare farm dedicated to sunflower, cowpea, maize and upland rice production.

The 2,000 hectares of farm in Lafiagi, Kwara State, was intended for maize, upland rice and cowpea while another 100-hectare expanse of land in pockets of arable places in Etinan, Akwa Ibom, was for oil palm plantation.

In Eggua, Egbado North area of Ogun State, the 1,000-hectare land, originally intended for maize and cowpea, was converted to a farmland where “the first largest African fish farm was to start, but was stalled by Abiola’s imprisonment.

The crop project intended for Eggua was also affected by clay soil and waterlogging of the soil, which made mechanization difficult, particularly the use of soil preparation equipment.

Oyediji disclosed that the 25,000-ton capacity silo built at Lafiagi farm, and bought for about $400,000 in 1988, was meant to store maize for all season for the farm and other farms nearby “so that all growers can send their maize for off-season storage, for human and livestock use.”

For now, he said, nothing is being done at the Lafiagi farm, as the silo is “lying fallow.”

He, however, noted that Kola, Abiola’s first son, is “still interested in revamping the farms and is struggling to get facilities and foreign partners.”

An earlier attempt to get some South African investors did not work, he said, adding, “all pieces of equipment in the farms are still in serviceable conditions, and we are looking forward to partnerships” to revive the farm businesses.

Mrs. Hafsat Abiola-Costello, one of Abiola’s daughters, reflected on the demise of her father and his spirit of giving he left behind.

She said: “It is difficult to isolate one aspect in the life of a man of so many parts. Especially when for his kids, knowledge of his philanthropy — the work for which he was known in his lifetime and remembered beyond it — was acquired almost by osmosis.”

She recalled that her father taught them that by investing in others they were investing in themselves; and in giving, they receive.

Lagos businessman, Mr. Amaechi Kingsley, said: “It is a shame that 13 years after the death of MKO Abiola, there is no national monument in his honour.

“Besides the Polytechnic and Stadium named after him in Ogun State, what else has been paid as tribute to the man who laid down his life for the democracy we are enjoying?”

For Imeh Uka, the greatest beneficiary of Abiola’s struggle is former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He noted that the campaign to write Abiola’s name in gold had been on the front burner since 1999, when Obasanjo began his first term as president, “yet the beneficiaries of the annulment (of June 12) had remained adamant, reaping where they did not sow.”

Olumide Joshua said Abiola’s spirit would continue to hunt national leaders, who failed to do the right thing.

On the contrary, Yinka Idowu, a Lagos resident, said Abiola deserved the ill treatment being meted to his memory by politicians and associates, “having failed to honour Pa Obafemi Awololo during his lifetime.”

“You see the difference between Awolowo and Abiola years after their death. When Abiola was alive, everybody was praising him; he was the man of the people. But after his death, many things began to unfold.

“For instance, we heard the reason we did not have mobile telecommunications before Obasanjo’s tenure in 1999 was because of Abiola’s misappropriation,” Idowu said.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51068:mko-13-years-after-an-empire-crumbles-&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

Nigeria should immortalize MKO Abiola. He did great work in making democracy become a reality for Nigeria

why cant they have the zimbabwean farmers try to revitalize the farms.

nigboy:

Nigeria should immortalize MKO Abiola.  He did great work in making democracy become a reality for Nigeria

How did Abiola bring democracy or make it work in Nigeria?. By sharing bags of rice and sugar to prospective voters?.

The whole Abiola saga can be summed up by applying the yoruba adage as follows:

"ti ti enikan o ba baje, ti elo mi oni da" (translation in our pigin english: if one person own no spoil, another person own no go good )

Most of Abiola's workers believed his incarceration and misfortune was a sign of blessing to them, thus their engagement in massively looting everything he had.

Thesame fate almost befell OBJ,,,,his workers at otta farm robbed him blind while he was imprisoned,,,,from chicken, turkey, corn, yam to other farm produce. His saving grace was he made it out alive and was imposed as president. That was why the otta ape looted the dungeon called nigeria blind. Infact, the greatest looter today in nigeria is OBJ.

^^^^^^^^^^^

there is nothing noble about stealing.


awolowo wasn't a nice man awolowo was evil to the core. he stamped his foot in his shoe on the head of prostrated akintola in a private meeting where the yoruba obas were bringing them together.

what awolowo did to those wealthy older yorubas whose properties he took on eminent domain can't be forgotten.

and i see that aloy/emeka must love the yorubas by his statement above. this is a dangerous love you have for anything yoruba.

MKO irrespective of his past antecedence needs to be immortalized, his life and struggle plays a major part of the democratic evolution of Nigeria. we can never deny that.

A MUST READ ARTICLE ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF THE YORUBA IN GOVERNMENT---------------> http://thinkafricapress.com/nigeria/where-are-yoruba

Nawaooh.!

The Death of MKO has made his kids political orphans. We all saw how one of the Abiolas was played out during the last election, the Abiola son lost the ACN nomination ticket for the house of reps to a young single boy who happened to be Mr Oshoba's son.  The Tinubu selection style was used in all its efficacy to exclude those in their deluded minds were believed to be enemies of the new status quo.

I have a feeling Tinubu and Oshoba have a kick unnerving the Abiolas and the Awolowos,  anyway one should not be surprise many of us would do the same thing if given half a chance to humiliate someone who we have looked up to for years.  

international thief thief

some people and IMMORTALIZATION sef, what about awololo,saro wiwa, , A BEGI, make una go sidon jo! very soon una go want immortalization for bro sege and rev King what about John togo.

tpia@:

why cant they have the zimbabwean farmers try to revitalize the farms.

you have never made any sense to me so far

MKO reap what he sowed

drug money

Immortalising a criminal? ? ?
Abiola was a crook. Good riddance.

I can't think of anyone from the SW who would've been a better Presidential candidate than Gani Fawehinmi. When we lost that man, we lost part of the conscience of the nation. He was in the level of Achebe and Soyinka as the conscience of d nation. We miss him.

Kids of these days are crying foul about Abiola even when they know little about him.He was a bad guy yet all your parents voted for him in 93 ? So who's stuupid here ? You people or parents ?

About his business going down the pan, didnt he have a son (with a head) that could have
stepped in and at least stem the apid decline?
yeye fowls.

i tire for some Nigerians especially at their level of reasoning.

Dont worry we go immortalize Borde George immediately he die.

Abiola as any man successfully ran his private businesses to the level it was, He then pursued his personal ambition to rule Nigeria on the process he died. u ar now calling on Nigeria to immortalize him. a beg- something most kill a man.

@ them-people.

Thank you my brother Gani is a hero 4ever.
A truthful Nigerian, he is the type we should be celebrating.
He is n will 4 eva be a positive role model to many nigerians with great mind like him.
I LOVE HIM.

I still can't understand why folks like to celebrate rouges Abiola was a criminal that contributed to the stunted growth of Nigeria and Nigerians. He contributed to most coups including the one that brought Ibrahim evil spirit Babangida, who plunder Nigerian wealth with the help of Abiola. Now people are referencing Abiola's empire, whish empire are you deluded folks talking about? Ignorant mofos!

How did Abiola bring democracy to Nigeria when he single handedly spornsored the most coup that brought military rulers into power

The whole Abiola saga can be summed up by applying the yoruba adage as follows:

"ti ti enikan o ba baje, ti elo mi oni da" (translation in our pigin english: if one person own no spoil, another person own no go good )

Most of Abiola's workers believed his incarceration and misfortune was a sign of blessing to them, thus their engagement in massively looting everything he had.

Thesame fate almost befell OBJ,,,,his workers at otta farm robbed him blind while he was imprisoned,,,,from chicken, turkey, corn, yam to other farm produce. His saving grace was he made it out alive and was imposed as president. That was why the otta ape looted the dungeon called nigeria blind. Infact, the greatest looter today in nigeria is OBJ.

Lessons in life. . . ILL GOTTEN WEALTH NEVER SETS ANY SOLID FOUNDATIONS.

Any form of wealth acquired in Nigeria is a 'curse'!


The reason big man syndrome never works in Nigeria.
The children are never able to step up to fill the enterprising shoes of their parents.
All the children may be successes in their own rights OUTSIDE Nigeria. . .but NOT in Nigeria.
Reason:Children are never greater than their parents in Africa. . .

You only see children aspire to be greater and become greater than their parents in foreign countries.


He is not alone.

See the Igbinedions?
No head or tail from all those OKADA ventures the man worked so hard to establish.

Many other families like that.


Thank God for life outside Nigeria jare. Make my mama and papa keep them property. I now want!


Is that 'Brown Eyed Girl" playing on my radio?
Lah-Kee-Dah!

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!

Another Poverty mentality,

Nigerians love celebrating the dead, Man leave the past to history and let us face the reality of the future.

If Abiola were the genius people claim , where are all his investments today! God just use him to cage Babangida as He is using Jonathan to cage Zoning agenda of the Northerners.

However, I for him.

The empire was built on wickedness and evil so it has reaped the inevitable just like ABIOLA himself.

The question here is June 12 worth all the hulabalu that they are making out of it?

The day itself June12 is a well recognized date and no year passes that it is not being talked about, Governments at all levels mostly in the south west have all sort of conferences, occasions, talks etc yet they are still asking for more, they want everything to be changed to MKO Abiola, from roads to bridges, buildings very soon they will ask for the water under third mainland bridge to be called MKO Abiola water.

Some have even said that democracy day should change from May 29th to June 12th, in as much as that sounds like a good change i am sure if this could have happened it would since have been change during OBJ's tenure.

Please you guys should take it easy on MKO abiola and do not try to impose things on all of Nigeria, that day could be made public holiday in some areas but people should realize by now that it cannot be imposed nation wide.

We all know who did what and why and that should be the direction that they should be looking at, to make someone pay for the injustice of June 12.

I will advice that in your own little way as a Nigeria celebrate MKO and that day and stop all the fighting between state and federal

alex101:

  The whole Abiola saga can be summed up by applying the yoruba adage as follows:

"ti ti enikan o ba baje, ti elo mi oni da" (translation in our pigin english: if one person own no spoil, another person own no go good )

Most of Abiola's workers believed his incarceration and misfortune was a sign of blessing to them, thus their engagement in massively looting everything he had.

Thesame fate almost befell OBJ,,,,his workers at otta farm robbed him blind while he was imprisoned,,,,from chicken, turkey, corn, yam to other farm produce. His saving grace was he made it out alive and was imposed as president. That was why the otta ape looted the dungeon called nigeria blind. Infact, the greatest looter today in nigeria is OBJ.

I mean can you imagine all the rubbish the Oyedeji is saying. Is it MKO that will rise out of the grave to reactivate those businesses. They are waiting for the nation to immortalize the man yet they who are perhaps the closest to him cannot even raise a finger to prevent the total destruction of his businesses. They should wait for his ghost to write cheques and obtain loans for them. . Just give some interested, hard working and half decent fellow a fraction of those assets he mentioned and you will be looking at a millionaire in just a season. For his information 1,000 acres of bare farm land is what some are looking and even killing for to cultivate. Does it take a loan to put a hoe into the ground. They are waiting for MKO. Lazy fellows.

That is what you get when your wealth is not built right. It can never endure. Wealth built by vanity is quickly eroded. He never had workers but pillagers around him and not managers but parasites and boot-lickers who merely saw the ease with which he made his wealth and never learnt hard work. How can you have all these businesses and cannot transmit your values to t least one, one, one human being around you. Tell me forumites, how does a man become a billionaire without any positive, transmittable impact to anyone around him. How can one possible rise to such heights all alone. This country sef.

See the Igbinedions?
No head or tail from all those OKADA ventures the man worked so hard to establish.

LOL, dats a wrong example, both Esama and kids are crooks, oooo which kin hardwork Esama doooo