₦airaland Forum

Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 election, has shared a compelling account of his encounter with the late Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.

Sowore, who was only 21 at the time, recalled how, as the leader of the University of Lagos Student Union, he led a delegation to meet Abiola shortly after General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the election.

Sowore shared this story during his appearance on the Honest Bunch podcast, released by Glitch Africa Studios to YouTube on Monday evening.

In what was both their first and only meeting, Abiola offered Sowore N800,000, a gift that Sowore claimed to have declined.

This memorable encounter left a lasting impact, as it would be the only time Sowore would meet the man many believed to be Nigeria’s rightful president.

"We started protesting immediately, but while the protest was going on, we were concerned about whether Abiola was strong enough to fight the battle we were ready for—the battle of our lives.

“This was the year I was supposed to graduate from university,” Sowore explained.

“So one day, we drove directly to his house in the Student Union bus and walked into his parlour. We asked to see him, breaking all the protocols.

“When we arrived, he asked, ‘Who are these people?’ and I stepped forward. He recognised me and said, ‘Ah, student union leader, I know you. Good job!” he said.

Sowore continued, recalling how the first thing he said to Abiola was whether he was prepared for the upcoming battle. He also mentioned how, upon their arrival, there were politicians present—some of whom Sowore claims were only interested in Abiola’s money.

He stated that he immediately told Abiola that these politicians did not believe in his mandate and would eventually abandon him.

“I said to him, ‘Are you ready for this battle? Are you ready to die for Nigerians?’ and he said yes. Then, as we walked into the room, we saw politicians clinging to their bags because they were there to collect money. Abiola had a large duffel bag of cash beside him. I told him that these people didn’t believe in his mandate and would betray him.”

Sowore continued, “Abiola then reached for his duffel bag and started counting N800,000. He placed it on our side and said, ‘Student union leaders — this is for your transportation.'”

However, Sowore rejected the money, explaining that he couldn’t have come from UNILAG to Abiola’s house for N800,000 in 1993.

“I told him, ‘Chief, forget the transportation; how can N800,000 cover transport from UNILAG to here?’ We did not take the money, but he insisted. He had never given money to anyone before, but we rejected it.”

Sowore went on to say that the tension in the room was palpable, especially as some politicians were unhappy with his stance. “I was wearing slippers and my only Ankara outfit. When they saw my firm stance, Chief Anthony Enahoro, who was also there, supported me.”

He described how, in an attempt to resolve the tension, Abiola escorted them out. Outside, John Momoh, now the owner of Channels Television, and his cameraman were waiting to interview Abiola. “That’s when the famous photo was taken,” Sowore said.

Sowore added that he only became aware of the existence of this photo in 2018. “I didn’t know the footage existed until 2018.

“A photographer, Tunji Oyelero, who worked at Vanguard, had taken the photo but never gave it to me. He passed away before I got it, and one day, someone sent it to me.”

https://punchng.com/how-i-turned-down-n800000-from-mko-abiola-sowore/

Video of Sowore and Abiola in 1993

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gec6b7dUIM?si=x4zH4oTgk1W7EM43

The full video of Sowore on the Honest Bunch podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2wxP0mB-O8?si=HCzHloOciGs0OEnj

MKO

Money Kudi Owo...

The man was a cheerful giver


He was exaggerating, 800k that time is a lot of money to hand over to a student leader

Yet some GenZ are putting Sowore, Aisha Yesufu, Deji Adeyanju and the disrespect of it all Verydarkman in thesame category of activism

What a GenZ

Sowore might have his own but cut him some slack please. Stop disrespecting him.

One of them is below me. Very rude set of children

Useless info from a Useless person

🤦‍♂️can you just stop

Distraction. Talk about tinubu and his illegitimate government and not MKO that died more than 20 years ago

Dude been saying a lot of incoherent balablu of late.

Sowore has paid his dues.

EmperorCaesar:


Useless info from a Useless person

At least, you learnt something

Easy to believe

During this period.....The saint 64yr old youth and former Anambra governor was struggling for how ABACHA will make him the chairman of TIN CAN ISLAND SEA PORT

Ok

Noted.

Lying as usual

The dead can't speak

EmperorCaesar:


Useless info from a Useless person

You own is just to lick Tinubu's fumbling bumbum.

Very soon that bumbum will turn soar in that your mouth.

Useless boy.


,🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

illicit:
MKO

Money Kudi Owo...

The man was a cheerful giver

I can't see Sowore in the pics.

He was exaggerating, 800k that time is a lot of money to hand over to a naive student leader

My salary as a salesman that year was 1k and it was manageable

MKO. The best President Nigeria never had.

Was surprised to read Anthony Enahoro mentioned. He was one of Awo's peers and I can't fathom how he became one of the politicians that Sowore referred to as clinging to their money bags.

Full video: John Momoh interviewed Chief MKO Abiola in 1993. You can see Chief Anthony Enahoro and Omoyele Sowore behind him.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnq11WCAWzc?si=h9ucW7U2zNpU7u7o

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Sowore supported a corrupt man but wants to claim saint 😂

illicit:
MKO

Money Kudi Owo...

The man was a cheerful giver

I can't see Sowore in the pics.

He was exaggerating, 800k that time is a lot of money to hand over to a naive student leader

Then you don't know MKO

So why did Yorubas killed and shared his meat?

He is speaking gibberish, seeking for relevance

MkO

Very lucky and so so unlucky human..

Abacha na real gangster

nairavsdollars:
The dead can't speak

abi ..just dishing out lamba ..so how will MKO be counting one one naira with twenty naira as highest domination as at then ... And he counted 800000 naira as if na only student union he wan attend to ...

Mr Lamba sowore

Heay yeaH!!! See integrity

EmperorCaesar:


Useless info from a Useless person

you are calling your people from your region useless