MKO Abiola taller than adversaries 23 years after death – Okei-Odumakin

 Human rights activist and President of  Women Arise, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, says death of billionaire businessman and politician, Chief MKO Abiola, 23 years ago is a matter of lifelong regret.Abiola, the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, died on July 7, 1998, while in detention following his protest of the annulment.

Okei-Odumakin said in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos that Nigerians and human rights societies would not forget Abiola and his struggle to claim the mandate.

She said: “July 7 marks the 23rd anniversary of the death of Chief MKO Abiola, the man popularly elected by Nigerians as president, on June 12, 1993.

” Twenty-three years after his death, Abiola still stands taller than all his adversaries.

“He represents what Nigeria is capable of being.

“All the troubles of Nigeria, which Abiola’s victory was meant to abolish, are the very shenanigans threatening the corporate existence of this country today.”

Okei-Odumakin noted that June 12, 1993 Presidential Election was widely accepted as transparent, free and fair.

She said that it was a watershed election in Nigeria that transcended the primordial interests of ethnicity and religion.

The activist said that it was regretful that Abiola  died after spending over four years in incarceration because of his refusal to compromise his belief that a mandate freely given by over 14 million Nigerians could not be overturned by fiat.

She said that Abiola displayed uncommon courage, unparallel dignity and unusual candour in his defence of the mandate.

Okei-Odumakin said that Abiola’s memory should  challenge Nigerians to join hands to end insurgency and  other acts of terror.

“Government at all levels must commit themselves to the democratic ideals that Abiola, his wife, Kudirat, and so many other patriots paid dearly for.

“Without these sacrifices, we may not have the democracy that we enjoy today!” Okei-Odumakin said.

According to her, Nigerians, irrespective of social status, race and religion, should  re-dedicate themselves to the ideals democracy birthed by credible elections.

Okei-Odumakin said: “Entrenching the true spirit of June 12, which is free and fair elections, is the best way to immortalise Abiola.

“We salute the memory of Abiola whose election was clean, free and fair and adjudged so by both local and international observers.

“We call for an end to political manipulations.”