Ogun gov orders renovation of MKO Abiola’s house

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has ordered the renovation of the family home of the late MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, located in Gbagura, Abeokuta.

Governor Abiodun has directed that the late MKO Abiola’s family home, situated at Oja Agbo, Abeokuta, be renovated and spruced up in time for today’s (Wednesday) Democracy Day celebrations.

The Federal Government, under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, designated June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day, in recognition of the country’s most free and fair presidential election, and to pay tribute to MKO Abiola, who is widely acknowledged as the winner of the historic 1993 presidential poll.

The June 12, 1993, presidential poll was annulled by the Gen Ibrahim Babangida military junta, while Abiola was jailed by the late dictator, Gen Sani Abacha, who would later hijack power from Interim President Ernest Shonekan.

Abiola died in detention in July 1998.

In a statement on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Lekan Adeniran, Governor Abiodun directed that Abiola’s house should be given a colourful look for the Democracy Day celebration.

According to the statement, Abiodun wanted the family house of the late Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land to be befitting and conducive for many pro-democracies activists who would be visiting for the celebration.

The Deputy Head of the Abiola’s family, Alhaji Tajudeen Abiola, expressed gratitude to the Ogun State Government for the gesture, which he said would only bring changes not to the Abiola family house alone but to the community as the collapsed external drainage system was also touched.

“We are grateful to the state governor for this kind gesture. The fallen ceilings were replaced, the windows were touched and the old buildings are wearing new looks,” he said.

On his part, the son of the late business mogul, Ameen Abiola, said the family was greatful for the generous disposition of the state government aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the legacy and ideals of their late father.

According to him, the family would always be grateful for the various efforts aimed at bringing alive the memory of their late father.

MKO Abiola, a renowned business magnate and philanthropist, was widely regarded as the winner of the 1993 presidential election, held on June 12, but the results were controversially annulled by General Ibrahim Babangida.

After the annulment, MKO Abiola took the bold step of declaring himself the rightful president, which led to his arrest by the authorities.

Tragically, he lost his life on July 7, 1998, while still in detention, under circumstances that remain shrouded in controversy and mystery.