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  • Democracy Day: Tinubu speaks on lessons of June 12 for Nigeria

    The Former Governor of Lagos State, Sen. Bola Tinubu has said the democratic election of MKO Abiola on June 12, 1993 provides vital and reassuring lessons to Nigeria today.

    Tinubu made this known as the country marks this year’s Democracy Day, stressing that the spirit of June 12 would expand to become the spirit of Nigeria and national greatness of their dreams.

    Tinubu, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general election, made this known in a statement signed by his media aide, Mr Tunde Rahman, in Lagos on Saturday.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Federal Government had declared Monday as a public holiday to mark the event.

    Recall that June 12 was declared democracy day by the present administration to celebrate Chief MKO Abiola’s victory in the presidential election of June 12, 1993.

    Tinubu prayed that Nigerians from all walks of life and all parts of the country should unite to build a more industrious and peaceful society such that all Nigerians might enjoy a greater future.

    The presidential candidate said this occasion also compels Nigerians to again thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his successful efforts to name June 12 as Democracy Day for their beloved republic.

    The former governor said on this Democracy Day, he will dedicate himself and his upcoming campaign to the spirit of June 12 and what it best symbolises for today’s Nigeria.

    He said: “Just like democracy finally won against dictatorship, I know that prosperity shall overcome poverty, peace shall outlast violence, compassion will conquer hatred and good will defeat evil.

    “Justice, security and economic development will visit and reside in every hamlet, household, village, and city in our nation.

    “The spirit of June 12 shall expand to become the spirit of Nigeria and our national greatness and destiny.

    “My prayer, on this day, is that people from all walks of life and all parts of the country unite to build a more industrious and peaceful society such that all Nigerians may enjoy a greater future.”

    Tinubu noted that on this day, Nigerians will be celebrating democracy and commemorating those who had sacrificed so much to establish this most benign and noble form of governance in the land.

    The former governor added that Nigerians should never treat this day as just another holiday on the yearly calendar.

    According to him, “we must remember why June 12 is Democracy Day and why all Nigerians should honour it.”

    He noted that the June 12, 1993 election would remain the freest and fairest election Nigeria had experienced up to that moment and it yet remains as one of the best elections the nation had seen.

    Tinubu said a new way has come to the country even though the present democracy would not have been established without greater struggle, adding that dictatorship would not recede willingly and without struggles.

    “The annulment compelled the nation into an epic struggle of democracy versus dictatorship, choice versus coercion, and people versus power.

    “In this confrontation between a bright future and bleak past, goodness and the belief that we can become our better selves triumphed over cynicism and the blatant disregard of a powerful few for the collective welfare of the many.

    “Democracy won but it did so at a high price. The man who should have been president lost his life while suffering in an unlawful detention. Other democratic patriots suffered the same fate.

    “Lives and livelihoods were endangered and shattered. But the love of the human spirit for freedom and justice is unstoppable.

    “No amount of weaponry, no measure of suppressive force and no amount of propaganda can no longer restrain the cry for liberty and the rightful demand for a voice in how society is governed.

    “That election, though almost 30 years ago, provides vital and reassuring lessons to Nigeria today,” he said.

    The APC presidential candidate said first, it showed that Nigerians were capable of democratic excellence and conducting elections as good as anywhere else on earth.

    Tinubu noted that secondly, Abiola won a truly national mandate, his victory and mandate, though unfairly and unlawfully stolen, showed Nigeria’s unity was not an impractical dream.

    According to him, “although we are diverse in terms of ethnicity and religion, we all seek good governance, a better life and the positive things that result from sustained good governance.

    The former governor said this year’s democracy Day holds greater significance because they just concluded fair, transparent, and open primaries in his party.

    Tinubu congratulated all the other candidates for their nominations and their parties for doing their part to sustain democratic processes as the mainstay of their political life.

    He said APC was able to conduct a successful primary election due to the good leadership of President Buhari, and key party stakeholders like the governors, party leadership and the delegates.

    Tinubu said God bless Nigeria, praying that the souls of the martyrs of June 12 and the democratic struggle continue to rest in peace.

  • I’m proud of you – Tinubu tells Abiola’s daughter during visit to Gov Bello

    Sen. Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said he is very proud of the Director-General of the Yahaya Bello Presidential Campaign Organisation, Hafsat Abiola-Costello.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Tinubu made this known when he visited Gov Bello in Abuja, barely 72 hours after his emergence  as the flag bearer of APC ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

    He noted that the peace and joy being enjoyed  in the country was owed to her late father, saying “MKO Abiola, the reason June 12 became a public holiday”.

    He also revealed that it was in the house of Kudirat Abiola (Hafsat’s mother) that he found the cap with which he disguised and fled Nigeria.

    “I’m happy to be back to save Nigeria,” he added.

    He also thanked all members of  the Yahaya Bello Campaign Organisation, adding that, “ You all made a mark, you were resolute.”

    Tinubu commended the Kogi State Governor for mobilising the consciousness of youths during his campaign for the APC presidential ticket.

    The APC presidential candidate described Governor Bello as his son, adding that the governor was reminded  of “what the nation wants to be”.

    Tinubu was accompanied on the visit by three governors – Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Bello Matawalle (Zamfara); and Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano).

    A former Governor of Edo and ex-APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, was also at the meeting.

    The presidential hopeful also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for providing a level-playing ground for all the contestants during the special convention and primary.

    Tinubu said, “The man of the convention, the man of democracy for that day was Muhammadu Buhari.

    “If you want to run, run; you want to crawl, crawl; you want to dance, dance.

    “Yahaya Bello is my son; you mobilised the consciousness of the youth in the county. You remind us of what the nation wants to be”.

    Tinubu described his victory as a very good step for the APC stakeholders to work for one united country that is concerned about prosperity.

    The APC presidential flagbearer also thanked the party’s leadership for ensuring that the convention ended peacefully.

    “The (opposition) thought there would be chaos and crisis. But we saw peace. Emi lokan. It’s my turn,” he said.

    Tinubu also saluted the courage of Gov  Matawalle who, he said, faced the worst form of opposition, including banditry.

    “I thought the termites would eat him up. He listened to the words of elders, brought reconciliation and peace to Zamfara State,” Tinubu said.

    Responding, Gov Bello announced that he had collapsed his Presidential Campaign Council and would donate the building to Tinubu’s campaign organisation.

    The governor promised that he would  be on the streets to campaign for Tinubu and take APC to victory,

    “Today, I have collapsed my Presidential Campaign Organisation.

    ” I am donating my campaign organisation secretariat to you. I have  learnt a lot from the little lecture you gave to us.

    “What elders see when they are  in the valley, the younger ones won’t see it,” Bello said.

    The  governor noted that the convention and /primary election  had come and gone and promised to lead the youth to campaign for Tinubu to ensure that APC would win convincingly.

    “Never again will PDP lead this country. Thank you all my colleague governors for giving me the opportunity to learn from you.

    “Senator Abdullahi Adamu (APC national chairman) has never lost election and we will win the 2023 election. Our convention went well and peacefully,” he added.

  • June 12: Soyinka, Tinubu, Atiku, Obi, Utomi, Agbakoba, Falana, Sani, Ezekwesili to pay tributes to Abiola on Sunday

    June 12: Soyinka, Tinubu, Atiku, Obi, Utomi, Agbakoba, Falana, Sani, Ezekwesili to pay tributes to Abiola on Sunday

    …pro June 12 Governors and Stakeholders and others

    Pro-democracy activists across Nigeria will on Sunday pay tributes to the widely acclaimed June 12 1993 winner presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola by activists in the mould of Prof Wole Soyinka, Olisa Agbakoba, Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Femi Falana and other critical stakeholders.

    TheNewsGuru .com, (TNG) reports this was contained in a statement signed by Prof Anthony Kila Chairman, Organising Committee.

    June 12 Democracy Day Celebration is in commemoration of the Annual Anniversary of the June 12 DEMOCRACY Day, the June 12 Democracy Movement of Nigeria convened by Eminent Pro Democracy Compatriots, wishes to announce that it shall be hosting eminent Nigerians and Pro Democracy Activists on Sunday, June 12, 2022 at the Residence of MKO Abiola, the winner of the Presidential elections of June 12, 1993, who died in military incarceration for refusing to renounce the historic mandate freely given to him by Nigerians

    This historic event, which will be hosted at MKO Abiola Family Compound in Lagos named in 2015 as Nigeria’s Democracy Centre by the June 12 Movement, is aimed to compliment the official recognition of June 12 by the Federal Government as Nigeria’s Democracy Day arising from the Martyrdom of MKO Abiola.

    To this end, the historic event is expected to witness Prayers, Tributes, Roll Calls of Honour of Heroes and Heroines of Nigeria’s Democracy, and the Laying of a Wreath of Honour in memory of the Martyrdom of MKO Abiola to honour the sacrifice of his precious life to defend the mandate of the Nigerian people freely given to him on June 12, 1993, which is generally adjudged as a major catalyst to birthing the current Democratic rule in Nigeria.

    Some of the eminent Nigerians invited to Speak and pay Tributes at the event themed “Hope 93 & June 12 Elections: Lessons for Credible Elections in 2023” are Prof Wole Soyinka, Chairman of the Occasion, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Waziri Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, General Alani Akinriade, Prof Pat Utomi, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, Barr Femi Falana, SAN, Barr Mike Ozekhome SAN, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Senator Shehu Sanni, Chief Dele Momodu among others already invited to the event. Similarly, Invitations have been sent to all Pro June 12 Governors and Stakeholders to speak and pay tributes at the event with the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu as Chief Host of the day.

    However, due to the subsisting Covid 19 protocols, this year’s anniversary celebration is being organized as a hybrid event to accommodate more participants online via Zoom from 11 am, as this year’s anniversary celebration is also billed to witness the annual Roll Calls of Honours for distinguished Nigerians nominated as Heroes and Heroines of the Nigerian Democracy.

  • Kola Abiola emerges PRP presidential candidate

    Eldest Son of the late MKO Abiola, Kola, has emerged as the presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Redemption Party (PRP).

     

    He won against Usman Bugaje, Patience Key and Col. Gboluga Mosugu (rtd) to pick the PRP ticket for the February 25, 2023 poll.

     

    While Abiola got 2,097 votes from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bugaje came second with 813 votes. the president of Nigeria.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) had reported that Kola said he draws inspiration from his deceased father, Chief MKO Abiola, to take interest in the 2023 presidential election.

     

    The aspirant said that he would leverage the ideals of the PRP to change the dynamics of politics in Nigeria and breathe fresh air into Nigerians.

     

    “PRP is the oldest party in Nigeria today and I am in the party for the right reasons. We want to prove that things can still be done rightly. We represent a fresh idea,’’ Kola said.

     

    He said that if voted as the president, he would ensure the full participation of youths in governance.

     

    “I will like to see a repeat of the June 12, 1992 presidential election and the only way to do this is to reach out to youths. I will mobilize our youths to come out and vote because they constitute more than 60 percent of Nigeria’s population,’’ Kola said.

     

    He further said that his decision to contest on the platform of the PRP was a way of showing the youths that things were done rightly in Nigeria in the past.

    Kola
    Kola Abiola

     

    “I joined PRP because it will deliver a lot more than me. I will do my best to get more Nigerians involved in running the country. My personal target is to make sure that 40 percent of elective positions at the 2023 elections are won by PRP candidates,” he added.

     

    Kola said that if elected as the presidential flag bearer of the PRP, he would campaign with every PRP candidate across the country.

     

    “We will not do it by throwing money around, but by mobilizing those at the grassroots,’’ he said.

     

    According to the PRP Southeast Zonal Chairman, Mr Peter Okafor, Abiola is one of the best brains in the presidential contest.

     

    Okafor said that Nigerians needed a president that would correct the misgovernance of the past, adding that the aspirant would deliver if given the mandate.

  • 2023: Why I want to be Nigeria’s president – Son of late MKO Abiola

    2023: Why I want to be Nigeria’s president – Son of late MKO Abiola

    Son of late Chief MKO Abiola, Kola Abiola, who is a presidential aspirant on the platform of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), has opened up on why he wants to be the president of Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Kola, who made this known on Thursday in Enugu at a meeting with PRP’s delegates, said that his deceased father’s foray into politics was an encouragement for him.

    Kola said he draws inspiration from his deceased father, Chief MKO Abiola to take interest in the 2023 presidential election.

    The aspirant said that he would leverage on the ideals of the PRP to change the dynamics of politics in Nigeria and breathe fresh air into Nigerians.

    “PRP is the oldest party in Nigeria today and I am in the party for the right reasons. We want to prove that things can still be done rightly. We represent a fresh idea,’’ Kola said.

    He said that if voted as the president, he would ensure the full participation of youths in governance.

    “I will like to see a repeat of the June 12, 1992 presidential election and the only way to do this is to reach out to youths.

    “I will mobilise our youths to come out and vote because they constitute more than 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population,’’ Kola said.

    He further said that his decision to contest on the platform of the PRP was a way of showing the youths that things were done rightly in Nigeria in the past.

    “I joined PRP because it will deliver a lot more than me. I will do my best to get more Nigerians involved in running the country.

    “My personal target is to make sure that 40 per cent of elective positions at the 2023 elections are won by PRP candidates,” he added.

    Kola said that if elected as the presidential flag bearer of the PRP, he would campaign with every PRP candidate across the country.

    “We will not do it by throwing money around, but by mobilising those at the grassroots,’’ he said.

    Earlier, the PRP Southeast Zonal Chairman, Mr Peter Okafor, described Abiola as one of the best brains in the presidential contest.

    Okafor said that Nigerians needed a president that would correct the mis-governance of the past, adding that the aspirant would deliver if given the mandate.

    In a vote of thanks, one of the gubernatorial aspirants of the party in Enugu State, Mr Chukwunonye Ogbe, said that Nigeria needed a leader that would redeem the country.

    TNG reports Chief MKO Abiola was the presidential candidate of the defunct Social Democratic Party at the 1992 presidential election.

    He was the acclaimed winner of the election, adjudged to be the most credible in Nigeria’s history.

    The election was, however, annulled by the head of the then military junta, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

    MKO Abiola died in detention on July 7, 1998, the day he was due to be released. The military detained him for declaring himself Nigeria’s president in spite of the annulment.

    Meanwhile, the PRP is scheduled to hold its presidential primary election on June 5.

  • MKO Abiola’s son urges Buhari to investigate father’s death

    MKO Abiola’s son urges Buhari to investigate father’s death

    Mr Abdul Abiola, one of the sons of the late Chief MKO Abiola has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the circumstances that led to the death of his father.

    The young Abiola said this via his Twitter handle @AbdulMKO on Tuesday.

    He said that it was time for Nigerians to know the truth as to the circumstances that led to the death of his father, adding that the President should look into the archives.

    This, he said, would help the President to unravel the mystery behind the death of the late MKO, stressing that it was only such move that would bring about justice.

    “It’s time for the Nigerian people to know the Truth as to what happened in the post-June 12, 1993 Elections.

    “And also, what led to the death of MKO Abiola and Kudirat Abiola and other unsung heroes.

    “I urge President Muhammadu Buhari to look into our country archives for justice to prevail,” he said.

    Abiola was the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections but his election was annulled by the then head of state, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

    Abiola, however, declared himself as the President in what was called Epetedo declaration, but was subsequently arrested by the government of late Gen. Sani Abacha, the then head of state.

    President Buhari had also posthumously honoured Abiola with GCFR, which is the highest title in the land and the exclusive preserved of the President of Nigeria.

    Buhari also declared June 12 as Democracy Day against May 29 which was the day it was being celebrated before.

  • ‘I want to disrupt the political process’ – Kola Abiola returns to politics

    ‘I want to disrupt the political process’ – Kola Abiola returns to politics

    Mr Kola Abiola, eldest son of the late MKO Abiola, presumed winner of June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, has joined the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

    Abiola was formally accepted into the party on Thursday at its National Secretariat, Abuja by Mr Falalu Bello, the National Chairman of the party.

    Bello said: “I formally welcome you into our fold. Your antecedents speak volumes.”

    Earlier, Abiola said: “Today makes my formal inroad after, 27 years, back into politics.

    “I particularly picked to come back into politics through the PRP for some good reasons.

    “I have gone back to the history of Nigeria to look at the party that truly represents Nigeria.

    “I have gone back and I have found out that the oldest living party is the PRP; it still holds those ideals of what Nigeria and democratic practice should be like.”

    According to him, it is a party that was started by the people and truly for the people. It is a party that has showed first, as its priority, internal democracy.

    “I have come back to PRP to show Nigerians that not too long ago, we did things in the right way and the new entities that have come together nowadays forget that there was Nigeria that did things right.

    “I am one that believes in an equal opportunity be it employment, be it business, equally in politics and I believe this party represents all of these.

    “Everybody should have equal opportunity, irrespective of age, religion and ethnicity and that is represented here,” Abiola said.

    While raising concern over the low participation of youths in politics, he said: “We have a youth population that has been caught out of the system, the political process.

    “The first thing I want to do is to disrupt the political process, to disabuse the minds of the youth on godfatherism.

    “The way to do this is to give the true owners of Nigeria, that is, the 18 to 36 years age group that makes up over 75 per cent of the population, an opportunity for their voices to be heard and their numbers to count.”

    He said PRP is the only party that could give youths such opportunity to make their numbers count.

  • MKO’s death: You lied to Nigerians, Abiola’s son tells Fmr military ruler, Abdulsalam

    MKO’s death: You lied to Nigerians, Abiola’s son tells Fmr military ruler, Abdulsalam

    The family of late Chief MKO Abiola has tackled a former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), over his claims on the death of the acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential election.

    Gen Abdulsalami had in exclusive interview with Trust Tv said Abiola was not killed; that he died after falling ill, contrary to the popular reports that he died after drinking a poisoned tea.

    Jamiu, one of the children of Abiola, said the former head of state denied their father proper medical attention, hence his death.

    Expressing disappointment over the retired military leader’s claims, he said, “This incident happened over 24 years ago. Gen Abdulsalami is much older. I used to think that age would come with more honesty, but this is obviously not the case here.

    “He said that unlike late Gen Sani Abacha he made arrangements for the family of my father to see him. Can anyone first of all ask him why it took almost a month for any family member to see him? Other political prisoners were being released all along but yet a visit was too much to ask for.

    “When we speak of death, one can be liable in two ways. If you kill a person directly like in the case of my mother who, as you know, was shot by Sergeant Rogers acting on behalf of the then military government.

    “Or if you kill someone indirectly by allowing the person to die as in the case of my father during Gen Abdulsalami.”

    Daily Trust reports that Kudirat, one of the wives of late Aboila, was killed on June 4, 1996, by assassins suspected to be military.

    Jamiu further said, “Trying to pin down my father’s death on poison would be a waste of time since there was an autopsy report and it did not state poison as the cause of his death even though there is still a possibility.

    “But my father did have heart problems and the head of state knew that. The general public knew. Even those who saw him the night before his death said he was not well so why was he not given proper medical attention?”

    Reacting to Gen Abdulsalami’s statement that God’s guidance helped him to handle the tense situation in the country at that time, he said, “God provides guidance to those who seek it, but those who do not will be guided by the devil. In this case, the general was not being guided by God’s guidance.

    “If he was being guided by God, why did he allow the then UN Secretary General, Kofi Anan, to see my father before any family member? Did my father even know who Kofi Anan was?

    “My mother had been murdered in cold blood; would it not have been the priority of a head of state being guided by God to allow her children see their father after such a tragic loss? We were never allowed to see him.

    “Gen Abdulsalami was more interested in getting diplomats to talk to my father and persuade him to relinquish his mandate so that he (Abdulsalami) could enjoy a more legitimate stay in power.

    “This world might be a circus to the former head of state, but let’s see what the hereafter has in store for him.”

    Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), also criticised the statements credited to the former military leader.

    Falana said the ex-head of state had to explain the circumstances around Abiola’s death while with foreigners in the villa, adding that his latest excuses were what he was told as the incident was only witnessed by his CSO, Major Aliyu, who was in the room during the tragedy.

    “It has never happened in Nigeria’s history that foreigners will be allowed to give tea to a detainee, but now, it has become part of our history,” he said.

    “In any case, even if it is water that you have to serve the detainee, you have to taste it first.How can you tell us that you left Abiola in the custody of foreigners?

    “So, the general has to explain why Abiola was left in the hands of foreigners.”

    He further said the military severally forced Abiola to renounce his mandate by bringing former Secretaries General of the Commonwealth and the United Nations, Emeka Anyaoku and Kofi Annan respectively, but failed before they brought in American diplomats.

    He refuted the claim that Abiola died of natural causes, claiming he was denied medical attention for four years and was not released with other political detainees.

    “When at the instance of President Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu came to Nigeria to visit Abiola, he told the whole world that his health was very bad and required urgent medical attention, for four years that was not allowed.”

    He said the testimony of Gen Abdulsalam’s CSO was eventually discredited at the Oputa Panel after the general failed to attend the hearing.

  • Fmr military leader, Abdulsalam reveals cause of MKO Abiola’s death, US connection

    Fmr military leader, Abdulsalam reveals cause of MKO Abiola’s death, US connection

    Twenty-four years after, former head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, says late Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, acclaimed winner of the June 12 1993 Presidential election in Nigeria, died after falling ill while also explaining the US connection.

    He affirms that MKO Abiola was not killed.

    Speaking in an interview with Trust TV, he explained that this fact was contrary to insinuations that Abiola took tea that was allegedly poisoned, before he passed on.

    General Abdulsalam Abubakar further explained, “Well, I smile because there were lots of allegations here and there that we killed Abiola. As always when I am talking about late Abiola, I still thank God for directing me on things to do when he gave me the leadership of this country.”

    He stated that “on the day Moshood Abiola passed away; may he rest in peace, two to three things made me always say I thanked God for the guidance He gave me. I received a delegation from America headed by Pickering who was then the Secretary of State or so and the team also had Susan Rice.”

    He added that after the normal courtesies and discussions, when the delegation was about leaving his office, Pickering said, “Your Excellency we made a request to see Moshood Abiola but we were denied”. So I said “Why were you denied? who denied you?” There and then I made a decision. I said “Look, you will see Moshood definitely. I overrule whoever said you cannot see him”. So I now called my Chief Security Officer. I said “Please make arrangements for this team to see Abiola” That is one point.”

    He said that during the incarceration of Moshood Abiola, except his personal doctor, to his knowledge, no member of his family saw him. And when he became Head of State, based on consultations and interaction together with Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, he gave the family a date that they could come and see him.

    He explained that a day before he died, his family came to Abuja to see him, stressing that for one reason or the other, the whole family could not see him at the same time. So it was agreed that when this group of his family will see him today, tomorrow the next team will see him.

    “So they saw him like yesterday. Now this team from US came to see me and I said they could see him. Normally it was in the evenings the family go and see him. So because I had authorized the American team to see him, the other part of the family were waiting to see him.”

    The former Head of State stated that “it was at this meeting when the American team was meeting Abiola that he fell sick and suddenly the security officers called the medical team to come and attend to him”, adding that when they saw the situation, they said it was severe and they needed to take him to the medical centre.

    He explained that it was the medical team plus the American team that took him to the medical centre. Unfortunately, at the medical centre, he gave up the

    General Abdulsalam Abubakar further explained that it was then his Security Chief called and said, “I have bad news for you”. I asked what it was and he said, “Abiola is dead”. I was shocked.

    General Abdulsalami added that his security chief told him that he was there with the American team. At that time he, (former head of state) was staying in the barracks. He had not moved to the villa, saying, “so I said okay, let him take the American team to my house. I will meet them at the house; so I closed from the office, and went there.”

    The former Head of State stated that the issue was how would he break the news to Abiola’s family and how his government will tell the world Abiola had passed on, saying that he must be thankful to God and again to Ambassador Kingibe because they called on him and asked him to bring the family of Abiola and when they came, he broke the news.

  • This isn’t democracy my father, others died for – Kola Abiola

    This isn’t democracy my father, others died for – Kola Abiola

    Son of winner of the June 12 presidential election, Kola Abiola, has said Nigeria’s democracy currently being practiced was not what his late father, Chief MKO Abiola, and several Nigerians died for.

    He further noted that it was not the kind of democracy several Nigerians laid down their lives on the line for. Kola Abiola, said this during the Tribe Naija, 2021 Democracy Day Fireside chat, with the theme: ‘This thing Called Democracy,’ in Abuja, on Saturday.

    Abiola said, “I am not impressed with the democracy that we are in today, because it is not what my father and others died for. Is not what they put their lives on the line for.

    “And I want to make sure we get what they will be proud of in their graves. The mantle is now for me to make sure that happens and that is what I mean by completing that bridge.”

    He also called a positive disruption of the system to bring about the kind of change that will make Nigeria work for all citizens.

    The younger Abiola said that the Tribe Naija platform, under which the conversation was being hosted, was designed to bring together young Nigerians who have the passion to think outside the box to bring about a positive change in the country.

    Abiola said, “So, let us not make a mistake about the system. There is no system. We have inherited a system and it is time we turn that system on its head. The system just throws up what they want us to have and we have to pick from what they throw up for us to vote for.

    “We will change that on this platform. Because our numbers will count and we will have a say. You will know exactly the numbers we have at ward, local and state basis through this platform. I am committed to making that happen.”