Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, popularly called MKO was a true hero, businessman, philanthropist, and politician, he was voted president in what has
unarguably turned out to be the freest and fairest presidential election in the
history of Nigeria. Today marks the 19th year after his demise. We bring you 19 things you should know about MKO…Read below
unarguably turned out to be the freest and fairest presidential election in the
history of Nigeria. Today marks the 19th year after his demise. We bring you 19 things you should know about MKO…Read below
1.
His name, Kashimawo, means “Let us wait and see”. Moshood
Abiola was his father’s twenty-third child but the first of his father’s
children to survive infancy, hence the name ‘Kashimawo’.
His name, Kashimawo, means “Let us wait and see”. Moshood
Abiola was his father’s twenty-third child but the first of his father’s
children to survive infancy, hence the name ‘Kashimawo’.
2.
It was not until he was 15 years old that he was
properly named Moshood, by his parents.
It was not until he was 15 years old that he was
properly named Moshood, by his parents.
3.
A
very wealthy man with business tentacles in several pies and several
continents, he, nevertheless appealed to the majority of the poor who saw his
philanthropic gestures as an unusual outreach from the bourgeoisie.
A
very wealthy man with business tentacles in several pies and several
continents, he, nevertheless appealed to the majority of the poor who saw his
philanthropic gestures as an unusual outreach from the bourgeoisie.
4.
Moshood Abiola married many wives; notable among
them are Kudirat Olayinka Adeyemi in 1973 and Remi Abiola.
He also fathered many children.
Moshood Abiola married many wives; notable among
them are Kudirat Olayinka Adeyemi in 1973 and Remi Abiola.
He also fathered many children.
5.
Moshood Abiola was conferred with 197
traditional titles by 68 different communities in Nigeria from 1972 until his
death.
Moshood Abiola was conferred with 197
traditional titles by 68 different communities in Nigeria from 1972 until his
death.
6.
His financial assistance resulted in the
construction of 63 secondary schools, 121 mosques and churches, 41 libraries,
21 water projects in 24 states of Nigeria, and was grand patron to 149
societies or associations in Nigeria.
His financial assistance resulted in the
construction of 63 secondary schools, 121 mosques and churches, 41 libraries,
21 water projects in 24 states of Nigeria, and was grand patron to 149
societies or associations in Nigeria.
7.
Chief Abiola, personally rallied every African
head of state, and every head of state in the black diaspora to ensure that
Africans would speak with one voice on the issues.
Chief Abiola, personally rallied every African
head of state, and every head of state in the black diaspora to ensure that
Africans would speak with one voice on the issues.
8.
He was made the Aare Ona
Kakanfo of Yorubaland, which is the highest chieftaincy title
available to commoners amongst the Yoruba,
and has only been conferred by the tribe 14 times in its history.
He was made the Aare Ona
Kakanfo of Yorubaland, which is the highest chieftaincy title
available to commoners amongst the Yoruba,
and has only been conferred by the tribe 14 times in its history.
9.
His
campaign theme: Hope 93 had a subtheme, Farewell to poverty.
His
campaign theme: Hope 93 had a subtheme, Farewell to poverty.
10. Abiola was also a man of style as evidenced
by his memorable campaign jingles.
by his memorable campaign jingles.
11. He picked another Muslim as his running
mate, Baba Gana Kingibe,
he, however, won the vote of the many Christians who defied religious
slant of his ticket.
mate, Baba Gana Kingibe,
he, however, won the vote of the many Christians who defied religious
slant of his ticket.
12. In
1994 Moshood Abiola declared himself the lawful president of Nigeria in the
Epetedo area of Lagos island, an area mainly populated by (Yoruba) Lagos
Indigenes.
1994 Moshood Abiola declared himself the lawful president of Nigeria in the
Epetedo area of Lagos island, an area mainly populated by (Yoruba) Lagos
Indigenes.
13. A successful businessman, chartered
accountant, Abiola was at that time set to become the first university graduate
to preside over the fate of Nigeria.
accountant, Abiola was at that time set to become the first university graduate
to preside over the fate of Nigeria.
14. After
declaring himself president he was declared wanted and was accused of treason
and arrested on the orders of military President General Sani Abacha,
who sent 200 police vehicles to bring him into custody.
declaring himself president he was declared wanted and was accused of treason
and arrested on the orders of military President General Sani Abacha,
who sent 200 police vehicles to bring him into custody.
15. President
Mandela had visited Nigeria in 1994 and engaged General Abacha on the matter of
the release of Mr Abiola.
Mandela had visited Nigeria in 1994 and engaged General Abacha on the matter of
the release of Mr Abiola.
16. Moshood
Abiola died on the day that he was due to be released, on 7 July 1998.
Abiola died on the day that he was due to be released, on 7 July 1998.
17. Abiola died exactly 19 years today at
the point of his release from detention, after the usurper, Gen. Sanni Abacha
who detained him died a month earlier.
the point of his release from detention, after the usurper, Gen. Sanni Abacha
who detained him died a month earlier.
18. He
was awarded the third highest national honour, the Commander of the Federal
Republic posthumously in 1998.
was awarded the third highest national honour, the Commander of the Federal
Republic posthumously in 1998.
19. He would have have been 80 today.