Chrys
President Bola Tinubu says MKO Abiola stuck to his
principles and fought for justice to protect democracy.
Tinubu said Abiola sacrificed his life to defend the
democracy Nigeria enjoys, noting that he refused to take the “easier choice” of
forsaking his mandate.
Abiola was the winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential
election which was annulled by Ibrahim Babangida, former head of state.
The election was adjudged as the freest and fairest poll in
the country’s history.
On July 7, 1998, Abiola died under unclear circumstances
shortly after the demise of Sani Abacha, former military ruler.
He had been jailed after declaring himself president despite
the annulment of the polls. He was supposed to be released the day he died.
Speaking on Monday in his first Democracy Day speech as
president, Tinubu extolled the virtues of Abiola.
“We can easily recall
the sacrifice and martyrdom of Chief MKO Abiola, the custodian of the sacred
mandate that was so cruelly annulled,” he said.
“He sacrificed his life in unyielding, patriotic defence of
the ideals of democracy as symbolized in his choice, by his fellow countrymen
and women, as their duly-elected president.
“There was an easier choice for him. It was to forgo the
justice of his cause and opt for the path of ease and capitulation in the face
of the tyranny of power. To his eternal credit and immortal glory, Abiola said
no. He demonstrated the time-tested eternal truth that there are certain ideals
and principles that are far more valuable than life itself.
“Every day, on this day, down the ages we will recall the
several other heroes of democracy such as Kudirat Abiola, wife of Chief Abiola,
who was brutally murdered while in the trenches fighting on the side of the
people.
“We remember Pa
Alfred Rewane, one of the heroes of our independence struggle and Major General
Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (rtd) who were silenced by the military junta while in
pursuit of democracy.”
‘POVERTY IS MAN-MADE’
Tinubu said Abiola was convinced that poverty could be
eliminated through proper social and economic policies.
The president said it was for this reason that Abiola named
his campaign manifesto, ‘Farewell to Poverty’, in 1993.
“To the winner of
June 12, democracy offers the best chance to fight and eliminate poverty,” he
said.
“Thirty years ago, he christened his campaign manifesto,
‘Farewell to Poverty’ because he was convinced that there is nothing divine
about poverty. It is a man-made problem that can be eliminated with clearly
thought-out social and economic policies.
“The democracy MKO
Abiola died for is one that promotes the welfare of the people over personal
interests of the ruling class and one where the governed can find personal
fulfillment and happiness.
“That is the hope MKO Abiola ignited throughout our country
in 1993.”
The president added that the heroes of Nigeria’s democracy
“gave their yesterday for the liberty that is ours today”.
