Hello, dear readers. Today, I want to share with you the story of a remarkable Nigerian who made history as a businessman, philanthropist, and politician. His name is Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, also known as MKO Abiola. 

He was born on August 24, 1937, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, to a poor family of traders. He was the first of his father’s 23 children to survive infancy, and his name means “Let us wait and see.” He did not let his humble background stop him from pursuing his dreams and becoming one of the most influential and respected Nigerians of his time.

MKO Abiola Education and Business Career

Abiola was a brilliant student who excelled in his primary and secondary education. He attended the Baptist Boys High School in Abeokuta, where he was the editor of the school magazine and a classmate of future president Olusegun Obasanjo. 

He won a scholarship to study at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, where he graduated in 1963 with a degree in accountancy. He then became a chartered accountant in 1965 after studying at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland.

Abiola returned to Nigeria and started working for ITT Nigeria, a multinational telecommunications company, in 1968. He rose through the ranks and became the chief executive and chairman of the company in 1971, a position he held until 1988. He was also the chairman of the Nigerian branch of the International Chamber of Commerce. 

He amassed a huge fortune from his business ventures, which included publishing, banking, oil, agriculture, and aviation. He was voted the International Businessman of the Year in 1988. He was also a generous philanthropist who donated millions of naira to various causes, such as education, health, sports, religion, and culture. 

He built schools, mosques, churches, libraries, and hospitals across Nigeria, supported liberation movements in southern Africa, and campaigned for reparations for slavery.

MKO Abiola Political Ambitions and Struggles

Abiola was not only a successful businessman and philanthropist but also a passionate politician who believed in democracy and social justice. He joined the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1979 and contested for the governorship of Ogun State but lost to the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) candidate. 

He later became the chairman of the NPN and played a key role in the 1983 elections, which were marred by allegations of rigging and violence. He was also a close friend of the military leader Ibrahim Babangida, who came to power in 1985 after overthrowing Muhammadu Buhari.

In 1993, after nearly a decade of military rule, Babangida announced that democratic elections would be held in Nigeria. Abiola decided to run for the presidency as the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), one of the two parties allowed by the military regime. 

He faced Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC) in a two-party race. The election was held on June 12, 1993, and was widely regarded as the freest and fairest in Nigerian history. Abiola won the majority of the votes across the country, cutting across ethnic and religious divides. He was widely expected to be declared the winner and the president-elect of Nigeria.

However, before the official results were announced, Babangida annulled the election, citing irregularities and pressure from some military and political elites who opposed Abiola’s victory. 

This sparked a massive outcry and protest from Nigerians who demanded that Abiola be sworn in as the President. Abiola refused to accept the annulment and declared himself the President of Nigeria on June 11, 1994, at Epetedo, Lagos. He said:

People of Nigeria, exactly one year ago, you turned out in your millions to vote for me, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But politicians in uniform, who call themselves soldiers but are more devious than any civilian would want to be, deprived you of your God-given right to be ruled by the President you had yourselves elected. These soldier-politicians introduced into our body politic a concept hitherto unknown to our political lexicography, something strangely called the ‘annulment’ of an election perceived by all to have been the fairest, cleanest, and most peaceful ever held in our nation.

Abiola’s declaration was seen as an act of treason by the military regime, which was then led by Gen. Sani Abacha, who had taken over from Babangida in 1993. Abiola was arrested and detained by the military authorities, who accused him of trying to overthrow the government. 

He was denied access to his family, lawyers, and doctors and was subjected to solitary confinement and torture. He spent four years in prison while his supporters and pro-democracy activists continued to agitate for his release and recognition as the President of Nigeria.

MKO Abiola’s Death and Legacy

In June 1998, Abacha died suddenly and was succeeded by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, who promised to return Nigeria to civilian rule within a year. Abiola’s release seemed imminent, as many Nigerians and international leaders called for his freedom and inauguration as the President. 

However, on July 7, 1998, Abiola died in custody, just a few days after meeting with a delegation of American diplomats led by the then Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright. His death was officially attributed to a heart attack, but many Nigerians suspected foul play and conspiracy. His death sparked riots and violence in some parts of the country, especially in his home state of Ogun and the commercial city of Lagos.

Abiola was buried in his hometown of Abeokuta amid tears and tributes from millions of Nigerians who mourned his passing. He was survived by his four wives and many children, some of whom have also ventured into politics and business. 

Abiola is widely regarded as a martyr and a hero of democracy in Nigeria. His election symbolized the unity and diversity of Nigeria, as he was able to win the support of people from different regions, religions, and ethnic groups. His annulment and imprisonment exposed the tyranny and corruption of the military regime, and his death galvanized the struggle for democratic restoration in Nigeria.

In 1999, Nigeria returned to civilian rule, with Obasanjo, Abiola’s former classmate and fellow Yoruba, becoming the President. Obasanjo declared June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria in honor of Abiola and the 1993 election. 

However, this was not officially recognized by the federal government until 2018, when President Muhammadu Buhari declared June 12 as the new Democracy Day, replacing May 29, which was the date of the 1999 inauguration. 

Buhari also conferred Abiola with the highest national honor of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), which is usually reserved for heads of state. He also apologized to Abiola’s family and Nigerians for the injustice done to him by the annulment of the election.

Abiola’s life and legacy remain an inspiration and a challenge for Nigerians who aspire to a better and more democratic country. He showed that it is possible to rise from poverty to prosperity, from obscurity to prominence, and from oppression to liberation. 

He also showed that it is possible to transcend the barriers of ethnicity and religion and to embrace the common values and aspirations of Nigerians. He paid the ultimate price for his vision and courage, and his name will forever be etched in the annals of Nigerian history.

Controversy And Activism Of MKO Abiola

MKO Abiola was a controversial and activist figure in Nigerian politics, especially in relation to the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which he won. Still, it was annulled by the military regime of Ibrahim Babangida. Some of the controversies and activism that surrounded his life and death are:

• He was accused of being a collaborator and beneficiary of the military dictatorship, as he was a close friend of Babangida and supported his coup against Muhammadu Buhari in 1985. He was also alleged to have used his wealth and influence to manipulate the political process and the media in his favor

• He was hailed as a symbol of democracy and national unity as he campaigned on a platform of social justice, economic development, and human rights. He was able to win the support of Nigerians across ethnic, religious, and regional lines, and his election was widely regarded as the freest and fairest in Nigerian history

• He was arrested and detained by the military regime of Sani Abacha, who took over from Babangida in 1993, after he declared himself the President of Nigeria on June 11, 1994, following the annulment of the election. He was charged with treason and denied access to his family, lawyers, and doctors. He spent four years in prison while his supporters and pro-democracy activists continued to agitate for his release and recognition as the President

• He died in custody on July 7, 1998, just a few days after meeting with a delegation of American diplomats led by the then Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright. His death was officially attributed to a heart attack, but many Nigerians suspected foul play and conspiracy. His death sparked riots and violence in some parts of the country, especially in his home state of Ogun and the commercial city of Lagos

• He was posthumously honored and celebrated by successive democratic governments in Nigeria as a martyr and a hero of democracy. In 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari declared June 12 as the new Democracy Day, replacing May 29, which was the date of the 1999 inauguration. Buhari also conferred Abiola with the highest national honor of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), which is usually reserved for heads of state. He also apologized to Abiola’s family and Nigerians for the injustice done to him by the annulment of the election.

MKO Abiola FAQs

Here are some possible frequently asked questions (FAQs) about MKO Abiola:

What does MKO stand for?

MKO stands for Moshood Kashimawo Olawale, which are the initials of Abiola’s full name. Kashimawo means “Let us wait and see” in Yoruba, as he was the first of his father’s 23 children to survive infancy.

How did MKO Abiola become rich and famous?

MKO Abiola became rich and famous through his business ventures, which included telecommunications, publishing, banking, oil, agriculture, and aviation. He was also a generous philanthropist who donated millions of naira to various causes, such as education, health, sports, religion, and culture. He was voted the International Businessman of the Year in 1988.

Why was MKO Abiola’s election annulled?

MKO Abiola’s election was annulled by the military leader Ibrahim Babangida, who claimed that the election was corrupt and unfair. However, many Nigerians and observers believed that the election was the freest and fairest in Nigerian history and that Babangida annulled it because of pressure from some military and political elites who opposed Abiola’s victory.

How is MKO Abiola honored and celebrated in Nigeria?

MKO Abiola is honored and celebrated in Nigeria as a martyr and a hero of democracy. In 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari declared June 12 as the new Democracy Day, replacing May 29, which was the date of the 1999 inauguration. Buhari also conferred Abiola with the highest national honor of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), which is usually reserved for heads of state. He also apologized to Abiola’s family and Nigerians for the injustice done to him by the annulment of the election.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading this blog post. I hope you learned something new and interesting about MKO Abiola. Please feel free to share your thoughts and comments below. Until next time, stay safe and stay informed.