TheCable

Jamiu Abiola, a son of late MKO Abiola, acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential elections, says ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo benefittied from his father’s death but failed recognise Abiola’s contribution to Nigeria’ democracy.

Abiola, the presumed winner of the election that was annulled, died fighting for his mandate while Obasanjo was elected president in 1999 upon the country’s return to democracy.

Speaking in Abuja at an event tagged “Testimonies of Change”, Jamiu highlighted the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Abiola said for over two decades, Nigerians gave mandate to his father which he was “denied and killed”, the family suffered emotional and psychological torture.

He said his mother, Kudirat Abiola, who also fought for his father’s mandate, was also killed in the process leaving seven children behind.

Jamiu said Obasanjo benefitted from the democracy struggle by his late father and mother when he was elected in 1999.

He said in spite of coming from the same region and state as his late father and mother, Obasanjo declined to recognise their contribution to the enthronement of democracy.

He, therefore, commended Buhari, who after over two decades, recognised his father and declared June 12, national Democracy Day.

“What President Buhari has done, despite not being a Yoruba man, has ended the emotional and psychological trauma my family has gone through all these years,” he said.

Jamiu also testified to Buhari’s “giant strides” in reaching out to the poor people and improving on infrastructure like power, roads, rails.

He said June 12 which his parents paid the supreme sacrifice for, was about the poor and the masses and Buhari had become a replica of the mantra.

He said Buhari deserve a second term, therefore Nigerians should come out to vote for him in the forthcoming election.