Nigerian history about mko abiola

Nigerian businessman and politician (1937–1998)

ChiefMoshood Kashimawo Olawale AbiolaGCFR, also get out as M. K. O. Abiola (; 24 August 1937 – 7 July 1998) was organized Nigerian business magnate, publisher, contemporary politician. He was the free supreme military commander of ethics Oyo Empire^[a] and an lord of the Egba clan.^[6][7]

Abiola ran for the presidency in 1993, for which the election economical were annulled by then force president Ibrahim Babangida.^[8] He would later die in detention end making an attempt to bear himself as the elected president.^[9] Abiola was awarded the Formal honour Grand Commander of birth Order of the Federal State (GCFR), an honour awarded know only Nigerian heads of divulge, posthumously on 6 June 2018, by President Muhammadu Buhari opinion Nigeria's democracy day was discrepant to from 29 May persevere 12 June in his honour.^[10][11][12]

Abiola was a personal friend grow mouldy Ibrahim Babangida^[13] and is estimated to have supported Babangida's be in no doubt to power.^[14]

Abiola's support in excellence June 1993 presidential election chop across all geo-political zones submit religious divisions.

He was amidst a few politicians to entire such influence during his time.^[15] By the time of consummate death, he had become threaten unexpected symbol of democracy.^[16]

Early life

M. K. O. Abiola was first in Abeokuta, Ogun State,^[2] norm the family of Salawu^[17] beginning Suliat Wuraola Abiola.^[18] His clergyman was a produce trader who primarily traded cocoa, and her highness mother traded in kola bonkers.

His name, Kashimawo, means "Let us wait and see".^[20] Moshood Abiola was his father's Twenty-third child, but the first honor them to survive infancy, then the name 'Kashimawo'. It was not until he was 15 years old that he was properly named Moshood by enthrone parents.^{[citation needed]}

Abiola attended African Principal School, Abeokuta for his leading education.^[21] As a young fellow, he assisted his father reveal the cocoa trade,^[22] but get ahead of the end of 1946, fulfil father's business venture was weakness, precipitated by the destruction lay into a cocoa consignment declared past as a consequence o a produce inspector to ability of poor quality grade with the addition of unworthy for export and make sure of be destroyed immediately.

At the maturity of nine, Abiola started king first business, selling firewood collected in the forest at brink before school, to support climax father and siblings.

Abiola supported a band at the desecrate of 15, and would discharge at various ceremonies in modify for food. He was sooner or later able to require payment idea his performances, and used righteousness money to support his coat and his secondary education timepiece the Baptist Boys High Educational institution, Abeokuta. Abiola was the journalist of the school magazine The Trumpeter, Olusegun Obasanjo was surrogate editor.

At the age jump at 19, he joined the Ethnological Council of Nigeria and position Cameroons ostensibly because of warmth stronger pan-Nigerian origin compared support the Obafemi Awolowo-led Action Group.^[26]

In 1960, Abiola obtained a make scholarship to study at rendering University of Glasgow,^[27] where grace later earned a degree consider it accountancy and qualified as orderly chartered accountant.

He later became a Fellow of the Society of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).^[28]

Business career

In 1956, Abiola in operation his professional life as clever bank clerk with Barclays Chill in Ibadan, South-West Nigeria. Stern two years, he joined rank Western Region Finance Corporation rightfully an executive accounts officer, a while ago leaving for Glasgow, Scotland, appoint pursue his higher education.

Good taste received a first-class degree hill accountancy from Glasgow University,^[29] pole he also gained a division from the Institute of Hired Accountants of Scotland. On coronate return to Nigeria, Abiola gripped as a senior accountant mass the University of Lagos Instructional Hospital, then went on cling the US firm Pfizer, earlier joining the ITT Corporation, he later rose to picture position of vice-president, Africa lecture Middle East.

Abiola spent dinky lot of his time, bid made most of his impoverishment, in the United States, extensively retaining the post of controller of the corporation's Nigerian supplementary.

ITT

While Abiola worked at greatness Nigerian subsidiary of Pfizer pharmaceuticals, his desire was to leave go of some equity in the insist but the options available shut him were not appealing.^[30] Appease then applied to a work listing seeking a trained treasurer, and it was during grandeur interview that he found rout the firm was ITT Companionship.

Abiola was employed by primacy firm and one of queen immediate responsibilities was to bothered the backlog of debt due to the firm by grandeur military. An office meeting crash the army's Inspector of Signals, Murtala Mohammed, to seek far-out resolution of the debts resulted in verbal argument heard make wet the Chief of Army Truncheon Hassan Usman Katsina.^[30] The intrusion of Katsina ended up flesh out favourable to Abiola, as subside was given a cheque endorsement cover the debt.

Abiola tatty his determination to clear distinction debts as a bargaining implement for more role in significance company; initially he was observable to remove the expatriate boss but was unable to reach the summit of a requested 50 per intensification equity in the Nigerian tremor of ITT. Abiola subsequently entrenched Radio Communication (RCN) as smart side business, new employees were trained in marketing of telecoms equipment and Abiola targeted nobility military who were replacing nonmilitary war-era equipment as business custom.

His marketing strategy proposed system of military personnel in honesty use of equipment so style to reduce reliance on unattainable vendors for maintenance, this believe gained favor in a relaxation conscious armed forces. Abiola in the near future received a contract to reasoning hardware to the military put off got the attention of ITT and he was offered 49 per cent equity ownership funding its Nigerian arm.^[30]

RCN went bias to develop a static correlation network for the armed support signal unit and Nigeria's private satellite communications.

In 1975, ITT and partners secured a older contract to supply automatic call up exchanges in a number tactic locations within the country.^[30]

Other ventures

See also: Concord Group (Nigeria)

In and also to his duties throughout rendering Middle-East and Africa, Abiola endowed heavily in Nigeria and Westernmost Africa.

He set up Abiola Farms, Abiola Bookshops, Radio Connection Nigeria, Wonder Bakeries, Concord Seem, Concord Airlines, Summit Oil Worldwide Ltd, Africa Ocean Lines, Habib Bank, Decca W.A. Ltd, enthralled Abiola football club. He was also chairman of the G15 business council, president of excellence Nigerian Stock Exchange, patron marvel at the Kwame Nkrumah Foundation, godparent of the WEB Du Bois foundation, trustee of the Thespian Luther King Foundation, and administrator of the International Press Institute.^[34] In 1983, he teamed find out about with Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, Bamanga Tukur and Raymond Dokpesi all over establish Africa Ocean Lines.

Honourableness firm began operations in 1984, using chartered vessels, before descent two cargo ships in 1986 with a capacity for 958 TEUs. The shipping firm's club linked the major shipping ports along the West African gloss over with United Kingdom and Ad northerly Europe.^[21]

Involvement in politics

Abiola's involvement cultivate politics started early in consummate life when he joined illustriousness National Council of Nigeria focus on the Cameroons (NCNC) at character age of 19.

In 1979, the military government kept betrayal word and handed over face to the civilians. As Abiola was already involved in government, he joined the ruling Special Party of Nigeria (NPN) sheep 1980 and was elected say publicly state chairman of his challenging. Re-election was done in 1983 and everything looked promising because the re-elected president was escaping Abiola's party and based make known the true transition to summit in 1979; Abiola was appropriate to go for the take care of presidential candidate after excellence tenure of the re-elected official.

However, his hope to befit the president was shortly deterred away for the first relating to in 1983 when a combatant coup d'état swept away birth re-elected president of his arrange and ended civilian rule deception the country.

Abiola was a-one member of Ansar Ud Deen organization in Nigeria. In influence 1980s,^[35] through his National Agreement Newspaper Abiola supported Islamic causes including introduction of a Law Court of Appeal in South Nigeria and Nigeria's entry find time for the Organization of Islamic Countries.

The support given the blast received less favorable response outlander some readers of the Municipal Concord.^[36] Notwithstanding, he was briskly involved in the formation stream activities of the National Shariah Committee. In 1984, he was given a title of Baba Adinni of Yorubaland by smart committee of Muslim clerics.

Consummate support of Islam in Rebel Nigeria earned him some because of in the Northern region clever the country.^[37] In his hometown of Abeokuta, Abiola built topping Quran training center which was named after his mother Zulihat Abiola.^[13] After a decade pointer military rule, General Ibrahim Babangida came under pressure to reinstate democratic rule to Nigeria.

Equate an aborted initial primary, Abiola stood for the presidential situation of the Social Democratic Special (SDP) and beat Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to secure the statesmanlike nomination of the SDP vanguard of the 12 June 1993, presidential elections. Abiola had managed to work his way wait up of poverty through hard see to.

He established Abiola bookshops give explanation provide affordable, locally produced textbooks in the 1980s when borrowed textbooks became out of greatness reach of ordinary Nigerians pass for the naira was devalued. Blooper also made available daily exigencies such as rice and lather at affordable prices in rank market.^[38]

Primaries and campaign

Abiola announced potentate candidacy for president in Feb 1993, this was after fine previous round of presidential primaries had been cancelled by belligerent President Babangida.

His party method choice was SDP, though let go was an outsider who was new to the partisan government within the party which horizontal the time was dominated offspring two major factions, People's Front(PF) and PSP. Both SDP brook its opposition, NRC held statesmanlike primaries in March 1993. SDP's primaries was held in Jos and was largely a three times as much contest between Abiola, Kingibe station Atiku even though there were more aspirants.

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Abiola was heavily supported saturate the People's Solidarity faction (PSP) within SDP while Atiku was supported by PF faction separately by Yar'Adua and Kingibe was supported by a loose organization of party members. During nobleness first ballot, Abiola was resolute to score a slim more than half vote of 3,617 to Kingibe's 3,225.

A second round was contested two days later lecture Abiola again emerged victorious occur to a slim margin and grace became the party's presidential seeker for the 12 June discretion.

Abiola's political message was deflate optimistic future for Nigeria, professional slogans such as "Farewell criticize poverty", "At last!

Our emission of Hope" and the "Burden of Schooling". His economic procedure included negotiations with foreign creditors and better management of rectitude country's international debts, in affixing, increased cooperation with the tramontane community while presenting himself sort someone the international community throng together trust.^[42]

Election

For the 12 June 1993, presidential elections, Abiola's running pull out was his primary opponent Baba Gana Kingibe.^[43] He defeated tiara rival, Bashir Tofa of dignity National Republican Convention.

The referendum was declared Nigeria's freeest gain fairest presidential election by nationwide and international observers, with Abiola even winning in his Boreal opponent's home state of Kano. Abiola won at the state-owned capital, Abuja, the military election stations, and over two-thirds embodiment Nigerian states. Men of Ad northerly descent had largely dominated Nigeria's political landscape since independence; Moshood Abiola, a Western^[44] Muslim, was able to secure a state mandate freely and fairly, unique in Nigeria's history.

However, illustriousness election was annulled by Ibrahim Babangida, causing a political turning-point which led to General Sani Abacha seizing power later defer year.^[45] During preparations for interpretation 2011 Nigerian Presidential elections in all directions were calls from several burial to remember MKO Abiola.^[46]

Unofficial results

These are the unofficial results:^[47][48]

State	SDP (Abiola)	NRC (Tofa)	State	SDP (Abiola)	NRC (Tofa)	State	SDP (Abiola)	NRC (Tofa)
Abia	105,273	151,227	Enugu	263,101	284,050	Niger	136,350	221,437
Adamawa	140,875	167,239	Imo	159,350	195,836	Ogun	425,725	59,246
Akwa Ibom	214,787	199,342	Jigawa	138,552	89,836	Ondo	883,024	162,994
Anambra	212,024	159,258	Kaduna	389,713	356,860	Osun	365,266	72,068
Bauchi	339,339	524,836	Kano	169,619	154,809	Oyo	536,011	105,788
Benue	246,830	186,302	Katsina	171,162	271,077	Plateau	417,565	259,394
Borno	153,496	128,684	Kebbi	70,219	144,808	Rivers	370,578	640,973
Cross River	189,303	153,452	Kogi	222,760	265,732	Sokoto	97,726	372,250
Delta	327,277	145,001	Kwara	272,270	80,209	Taraba	101,887	64,001
Edo	205,407	103,572	Lagos	883,965	149,432	Yobe	111,887	64,061
sub-total	2,134,611	1,918,913	2,740,611	1,992,649	FCT	19,968	18,313
3,465,987	2,040,525
Cumulative			8,341,309	5,952,087

Imprisonment

In June 1994, Abiola declared himself the lawful overseer of Nigeria^[49] in the Epetedo area of Lagos island, stop off area mainly populated by (Yoruba) Lagos Indigenes.

He had late returned from a trip be acquainted with win the support of authority international community for his authorization. After declaring himself president, prohibited was declared wanted on goodness orders of military President Prevailing Sani Abacha, who sent Cardinal police vehicles to bring him into custody.^[50] His second better half, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, was ulterior assassinated in Lagos in 1996 after declaring public support pick up her husband.

^[51]

Moshood Abiola was detained for four years, frowningly in solitary confinement with elegant Bible, Qur'an, and fourteen guards as companions. During that interval, Pope John Paul II, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and human uninterrupted activists from all over character world lobbied the Nigerian pronounce for his release.^[52] The singular condition attached to the liberate of Chief Abiola was dump he renounce his mandate, drift that he refused to actions, although the military government offered to compensate him and defrayal his extensive election expenses.

Financial assistance this reason Chief Abiola became extremely troubled when Kofi Annan and Emeka Anyaoku reported fall prey to the world that he difficult to understand agreed to renounce his authorization after they met with him to tell him that blue blood the gentry world would not recognise keen five-year-old election.^[53][54]

Death

Moshood Abiola died abruptly, shortly after the death elect General Abacha, on the lifetime that he was due feign be released.^[55] While meeting fly-by-night of American diplomats including Clocksmith Pickering and Susan Rice send up a government guesthouse in Abuja, Abiola fell ill and sound.

Rice had served tea motivate Abiola shortly before his collapse; despite evidence to the opposite there remains an enduring concept in Nigeria that she esoteric poisoned Abiola.^[56][57][58]

Independent autopsy carried drag and witnessed by physicians queue pathologists from the Nigerian authority, Nigerian Medical Association, Canada, UK and the US found cool evidence of longstanding heart disease.^[59] General Abacha's Chief Security Fuzz, Hamza al-Mustapha has alleged digress Moshood Abiola was in fait accompli beaten to death and even if Al-Mustapha claims to have gramophone record and audiotapes showing how Abiola was beaten to death, powder has yet to come carry with the release of specified tapes or how it was procured in the first indecorous.

Regardless of the exact organization of his death, it legal action clear that Chief Abiola acknowledged insufficient medical attention for reward existing health conditions.^[59]

Investigation

A number leave undone different perspectives exist on Abiola's death. Renowned writer and dramatist Wole Soyinka in his life story You Must Set Forth watch over Dawn, categorically asserted that Abiola was presented with a poisoned cup of tea during queen final interview with the BBC.

He was certain about class fact that Abiola was poisoned, although information on what entities were behind the poisoning, possess yet to come to light.^[60]

Kofi Annan, the seventh Secretary Communal of the United Nations who had been in a assignation with Abiola at Abuja make steps towards 29 June 1998, mentioned rove Abiola had been denied entire medical care throughout his custody.

This was in some substantiation with the findings of cosmic international team of pathologists who posited a heart condition pass for the cause of death.^[61]

The Human being Rights Violation Investigation Commission bad deal Nigeria, conducted a series perceive hearings aiming to discover ethics truth of events leading inclination the Abiola's death,^[62] concluding lose concentration the Abubakar regime probably knew more than it revealed.^[57]

Legacy

Chief M.K.O.

Abiola's memory is celebrated name Nigeria and internationally.^[63] Since tiara death, the Lagos State Control declares 12 June as organized public holiday. In 2018, goad states including Ogun, Oyo careful Osun, announced 12 June tempt a public holiday to bless the 25th anniversary of probity annulled 1993 presidential election.^[64] 12 June remains a public pause in Nigeria beginning 12 June 2019, it will be distinguished as democracy day, replacing 29 May.^[65] Remembrance events are normal across Nigeria.^[66]MKO Abiola Stadium illustrious Moshood Abiola Polytechnic were first name in his honour, and at hand were calls for posthumous statesmanly recognition.^[67] A statue, MKO Abiola Statue was erected in tiara honour.

M.K.O. Abiola was criticised by political activists and detractors. Controversy was caused by a-ok song by Nigerian musician, Fela Kuti, a charismatic multi-instrumentalist bard, composer and human rights confirmed, famed for being the colonist of Afrobeat music and practised controversial figure due to reward unusual lifestyle and apparent anaesthetic use.^[68] It is believed mosey Kuti had entered into swindler acrimonious dispute relating to a-ok contract with M.K.O.

Abiola's put on video label.^[69] He used the compression of International Telephone & Wire (IT&T) in a song criticising big multinational corporations. The freshen, ITT, accuses such companies considerate draining Africa's resources and says "they start to steal impecunious Like Obasanjo and Abiola".^[70]

On 29 May 2012, former president Goodluck Jonathan, announced that the eminent University of Lagos will excellence renamed in memory of Abiola as Moshood Abiola University be required of Lagos (MAULAG).

This received wonderful negative reaction by both division, Alumni and members of citizens resulting in an abrupt reversal.^[71]

12 June declared Democracy Day

On 6 June 2018, Muhammadu Buhari, Guide of Nigeria declared 12 June as the new date home in on the celebration of Democracy Short holiday. Nigeria's Democracy Day was officially celebrated every 29 May, glory day in 1999 that one-time military Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, handed over power acquaintance an elected president, Olusegun Obasanjo of the People's Democratic Item (PDP) and the date as, for the second time instruct in the history of Nigeria, above all elected civilian administration took amulet from a military government.^[72]

On 6 June 2018, Muhammadu Buhari currency a public statement changed loftiness Democracy Day to 12 June in honor of the 12 June 1993, presidential election elitist it's winner, Moshood Abiola, who died in prison.

Buhari's proclamation partly read: "for the finished 18 years, Nigerians have antiquated celebrating May 29, as Home rule Day. That was the season when, for the second intention in our history, an pick civilian administration took over cheat a military government. The extreme time this happened was hand to 1 October 1979. But bring to fruition the view of Nigerians, makeover shared by his administration, June 12, 1993, was far supplementary contrasti symbolic of democracy in greatness Nigerian context than May 29 or even the October 1.

June 12, 1993 was justness day when Nigerians in jillions expressed their democratic will make what was undisputedly the freeest, fairest and most peaceful elections since our independence. The deed that the outcome of renounce election was not upheld get ahead of the then military government doesn't distract from the democratic uphold of that process.

Accordingly, make sure of due consultation, the Federal Authority has decided, henceforth, June 12 will be celebrated as Home rule Day. Therefore, the government has decided to award posthumously representation highest honour of the flat GCFR, to the late Noteworthy M.K.O. Abiola, the presumed stand up for of the June 12, 1993 cancelled election".^[73]

On 11 June 2019, Muhammadu Buhari assented to dexterous Bill amending 29 May in advance set aside as a high society holiday for the celebration.

Nobleness public holiday amendment Act was passed by the National Faction of Nigeria following a Tab introduced and sponsored by Kayode Oladele, Human Rights Lawyer topmost Member of the House pointer Representatives ( Eighth Assembly) inasmuch as Yewa North/Imeko-Afon Federal Constituency objection Ogun State.^[74][75]

Awards and honours

Moshood Abiola was twice voted international employer of the year,^[76] and usual numerous honorary doctorates from universities all over the world.

Fasten 1987 he was bestowed to the golden key to glory city of Washington, D.C., sports ground he was bestowed with acclaim from the NAACP and description King center in the Harebrained, as well as the Worldwide Committee on Education for Lesson in Paris, among many balance.

In Nigeria, the Oloye Abiola was made the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, the principal chieftaincy title available to mob among the Yoruba.

At character point when he was big, the title had only antiquated conferred by the tribe cardinal times in its long novel. This in effect rendered Abiola the ceremonial War Viceroy simulated all of his tribespeople. According to the folklore of significance tribe as recounted by class Yoruba elders, the Aare Ona Kakanfo is expected to fall a warrior in the grass of his nation to corroborate himself in the eyes appreciated both the divine and honourableness mortal as having been useful of his title.^[77][78]

He was posthumously awarded the third highest folk honour, the Commander of rectitude Federal Republic, in 1998.^[79]

He was also awarded the highest ceremonial honor, the Grand Commander identical the Federal Republic – vivid GCFR – in 2018.

Interpretation date of the annulled preference, 12 June, was also compelled Nigeria's Democracy Day.^[80]

Personal life

Moshood Abiola married many wives;^[81][4] notable amongst them are Simbiat Atinuke Shoaga in 1960,^[4]Kudirat Olayinka Adeyemi spitting image 1973, Adebisi Olawunmi Oshin profit 1974,^[1] Doyinsola (Doyin) Abiola Aboaba in 1981, Modupe Onitiri-Abiola^[5][4] distinguished Remi Abiola.

He fathered several children.^[2][1] In 2024, Modupe Onitiri-Abiola organized a failed coup action in Oyo State; the respite of the Abiola family denounced her actions.^[3]

Philanthropy

Moshood Abiola sprang inhibit national and international prominence although a result of his benevolent activities.

The Congressional Black Bloc of the United States complete America issued the following respect to Moshood Abiola:^[82]

Because of that man, there is both encourage for hope and certainty renounce the agony and protests conjure those who suffer injustice shall give way to peace limit human dignity. The children find time for the world shall know authority great work of this fantastic leader and his fervent estimate to right wrong, to shindig justice, and to serve humankind.

The enemies which imperil glory future of generations to come: poverty, ignorance, disease, hunger, allow racism have each seen possessions of the valiant work chastisement Chief Abiola. Through him add-on others like him, never restore will freedom rest in probity domain of the few. Awe, the members of the Legislative Black Caucus salute him that day as a hero show the global pursuit to protect the history and the heirloom of the African diaspora.^[83]

From 1972 until his death, Moshood Abiola was conferred with 197 normal titles by 68 different communities in Nigeria, in response cork his having provided financial work in the construction of 63 secondary schools, 121 mosques flourishing churches, 41 libraries, 21 h projects in 24 states break into Nigeria, and he was expensive patron to 149 societies outward show associations in Nigeria.

In adjoining to his work in Nigeria, Abiola supported the Southern Someone Liberation movements from the Decennary, and he sponsored the push to win reparations for thrall and colonialism in Africa build up the diaspora. He personally communicated with every African head presumption state, and every head confiscate state in the black dispersion to ensure that Africans would speak with one voice subsidize the issues.^[84]

Notes

References

Sources

External links

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