Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, says closure over the death of Chief MKO Abiola will be achieved when some of the challenges faced in the country are confronted and eliminated.

Soyinka said this at a Wreath Laying Ceremony to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the death of Abiola, organised by Women Arise for Change Initiative (WA) at MKO Abiola’s graveside in Ikeja.

He was charged for treason in 1994 by the Nigerian government, because he had declared himself the lawful President of Nigeria. He died in custody on the verge of being released in 1998.

Soyinka said: “This is the first gathering in honour of MKO Abiola after the formal recognition by the federal government that he was duly elected, and that he is a past president of this nation.

“And all we are waiting for is the formal actualisation through symbolic presence of his photographs among other presidents, even though he was never sworn into office.

“We cannot escape the past, but we can confront the challenges of the present, which of course very often arise from the past.

“We are inching slowly towards closure. One of these days when we gather, we shall be rejoicing.

“At that time, we would have progressed towards the elimination of some of the abnormalities and contradictions in our country.

“We have the issue of security, obeying the law, which is one thing that equalises all. President Muhammadu Buhari should lead by example by obeying the dictates of the law, so that other Nigerians can follow suit.

“It is this refusal to obey the law that has made some sectors of the populace think they are above the law and are causing anarchy in the country.

“We have a responsibility as a people, and government should address the issue of education, youth unemployment and insecurity.

“Just when we thought we were dealing with Boko Haram, then come these nomadic herdsmen armed with AK-47, and gradually, the kind of harmonious relationships that existed between various productive arms of this nation begins to disappear.

“We find ourselves on a daily basis being threatened, killed, our women being raped and other productive arms like farmers being driven off their own territories.

“These are critical issues that we need to deal with head on and urgently, so that we begin to celebrate the memories of Late Abiola and what he stood for,” Soyinka said.

He described Late Abiola as a true leader and an icon of inspiration for Nigerians.

“MKO Abiola is one of those that belongs in that galaxy of stellar leaders who at the critical moments said No. Nelson Mandela was one of them, Leah Sharibu is another young example.

“MKO Abiola, when he was given a conditional release in detention, said No. This is an essential lesson,” he said.



Also speaking, a Human Rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, said that a team of lawyers was being set up to re-open the matter on the death of Abiola at the international court, so that justice would be served.

Falana decried the high rate of poverty in the county, saying that it contradicted the legacy of Late Abiola.

“MKO Abiola’s campaign was anchored on farewell to poverty, today a 100milliin Nigerians live in abject poverty.

” We, therefore, need to rededicate ourselves to taking our people out of poverty, tackle the problem of insurgency, banditry and kidnapping by addressing the high rate of out-of-school children.

“Abiola stood for justice for all. All Nigerians must benefit from the resources of the nation, ” Falana said.

In his address, retired Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, a former military administrator of Lagos State, said that Abiola would forever be remembered for his principles and for believing in true federalism.

“We are having so many problems today. 21 years after the death of MKO, we are still struggling to enthrone true federalism where every Nigerian will have a sense of belonging as a citizen.

”We urge the government to go back to how we became a country – a Federal Nigeria. That is the way forward, ”he said.

Also speaking, Alhaji Mohammed Fawehinmi, son of Late Gani Fawehinmi, commended President Buhari for being sensitive to the plights of Nigerians.

Fawehinmi urged President Buhari to urgently constitute his cabinet for a better economy.

Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, convener of the event, said that 21 years after the death of Abiola, he would continually be celebrated as a great son of Africa.

Okei-Odumakin urged the federal government to constitute a judicial commission of inquiry to unravel how Abiola died in custody.

She also called for the abolition of poverty in the country, saying that it was an issue paramount to late Abiola

Responding, Alhaji Jamiu Abiola, one of the sons of MKO Abiola, appreciated the Federal Government for declaring June 12 Democracy Day, saying that it was an unexpected miracle.

“I want us to be optimistic as a people because I know that the same federal government that was able to take that giant step will not stop at that. They will respond to the yearnings of Nigerians.

“The many challenges in our country today are as a result of decadence over the years and it will not be easy to tackle them in one day. Let us be patient with President Buhari.

“As we also clamour for restructuring, let us look inward and restore our thinking and ways of doing things. It is not just what the government can do, it is about what we can do as a people to better our nation, ” he said.

Also, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Abiola, another of the sons of Late Abiola, urged Nigerians to stop living in the past and plan for a better future for the younger generation.

“We should allow what happened in the past to be in the past. Let’s stop querying who killed Abiola. Let us talk about how to build a better Nigeria for our children.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/soyinka-falana-others-lay-wreath-on.html

Hmm

Maximum respect to the true hero of democracy.

One man who challenged the powers and died powerful.

One man who stood for his conviction and paid the ultimate price

And will after many years reap the reward of his conviction.

One man who maybe imperfect but gave his life for a nation's freedom, and the said nation will some years later surrender to democracy.

He maybe many things to many people... but he is a superhero.

And history will always remember his sacrifice for a nation called Nigeria.

Maximum respect.

Yours,
AV

Imagine, what Abiola clamored about several years ago is what we are still clamoring about and every time campaign promises.

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Talk

hypocrites gather for a late hypocrite who wanted power at all cost.

delugajackson:
M.K.O Abiola, GCFR.

A thief and a hero, all in one.

They'll mine your skull.

Take cover bro.

delugajackson:
M.K.O Abiola, GCFR.

A thief and a hero, all in one.

dis nairaland ehn

Who's That FOOLISH IDIOT Calling Abiola A Thief Do you want to be Fortunate in this life? Abiola was already a billionaire when your father was masturbating in the village. Even if he stole did he steal from your Generation?

[s]

Klington:
hypocrites gather for a late hypocrite who wanted power at all cost.

[/s]

When a foolish tribe is filled with hate even for the dead such foolish tribe is bound to lose 2 million of her foolish citizens in the Biafra war.

delugajackson:
M.K.O Abiola, GCFR.

A thief and a hero, all in one.

RIP legend

Okay

You guys better thank God abiola wasn't president, by now Nigeria would have be sold already. Lol.

post=80041544]Maximum respect to the true hero of democracy.

One man who challenged the powers and died powerful.

One man who stood for his conviction and paid the ultimate price

And will after many years reap the reward of his conviction.

One man who maybe imperfect but gave his life for a nation's freedom, and the said nation will some years later surrender to democracy.

He maybe many things to many people... but he is a superhero.

And history will always remember his sacrifice for a nation called Nigeria.

Maximum respect.

Yours,
AV[/quote]

Modphase:
When a foolish tribe is filled with hate even for the dead such foolish tribe is bound to lose 2 million of her foolish citizens in the Biafra war.

Two million is not Enough, They want to die more

it's instructive to hear one of d sons summit that d past should remain in da past and let none continue digging for who killed Abiola.

Useless exercise

A great man!
MKO Abiola!
A man that spoke the African way.
We will never forget you.
President MKO Abiola.
Welcome home.

Great man he was!

But I have a question:

“MKO Abiola is one of those that belongs in that galaxy of stellar leaders who at the critical moments said No. Nelson Mandela was one of them, Leah Sharibu is another young example.

“MKO Abiola, when he was given a conditional release in detention, said No. This is an essential lesson,” he said.



My question is on the highlighted section... He was given an option but he resisted and at the end he died in prison. What happens if he had accepted the condition and continue his fight outside the prison than to die in detention?

Again on Leah issue, what if she denounced her religion and got the needed freedom(being the reason she is still in captivity) and then continue to practice her religion when she is freed?

Please I just want to understand the best approach to adopt when one finds him/herself in such a situation.

Abiola is no different from our present day politicians. All of them are in it for their selfish interests.

Modphase:
When a foolish tribe is filled with hate even for the dead such foolish tribe is bound to lose 2 million of her foolish citizens in the Biafra war.

is
It that all you can spit out?
Bitter entity

Modphase:
When a foolish tribe is filled with hate even for the dead such foolish tribe is bound to lose 2 million of her foolish citizens in the Biafra war.

It that all you can spit out?
Bitter entity

They have named one dilapidated stadium after him and forgotten him

The FG playing Yorubas like lotto

Olorunnim:
Who's That FOOLISH IDIOT Calling Abiola A Thief Do you want to Fortunate in this life? Abiola was already a billionaire when your father was masturbating in the village. Even if he stole did he steal from your Generation?

Abiola was I. T. T. Go and listen to Fela. Fela is their spiritual father.

The Jamiu abiola’s submission is quite apt tho!

labusinessguide:
Maximum respect to the true hero of democracy.

One man who challenged the powers and died powerful.

One man who stood for his conviction and paid the ultimate price

And will after many years reap the reward of his conviction.

One man who maybe imperfect but gave his life for a nation's freedom, and the said nation will some years later surrender to democracy.

He maybe many things to many people... but he is a superhero.

And history will always remember his sacrifice for a nation called Nigeria.

Maximum respect.

Yours,
AV

Obasanjo was president for 8 years, a fellow omoluabi, why did he not agree with you and immortalize mko?

favour32:
A great man!
MKO Abiola!
A man that spoke the African way.
We will never forget you.
President MKO Abiola.
Welcome home.

Obasanjo doesn't agree with you, why? You and Obasanjo who knew mko better. And Fela Kuti called mko a 'thief'. Do you know better than Fela and Obasanjo?

delugajackson:
M.K.O Abiola, GCFR.

A thief and a hero, all in one.

what are you? Nobody?