MKO ABIOLA AND JUNE 12: THE LEGACY TO SURPASS

”President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not living up to his name as “Asiwaju”, meaning in Yoruba the leader and “Jagaba”, meaning in Hausa language the progressive leader, will amount to the miscarriage of a colorful destiny, which to say the least, should have manifested in our world at all today”.

Man is man and animals are animals. It is on this understanding that other variables including gender, race, nationality, languages and religions are premised. This alludes to the fact that something cannot be built on nothing. Even though men are born equal, some has become more equal than the others, as can be seen in class structures and discrimination of all sorts including racial. It is interesting that even after the natural birth, men also take responsibility for their lives through both personal and professional developments, and these support the belief that one can be born poor and become rich overtime, while some who were born rich have ended up as poor.

The case of the symbol of June 12, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola popularly known as MKO, who has been officially acknowledged to be onetime Nigerian president even though he did not live to enjoy the paraphernalia of the office, as carved and indelible niche in the hearts of Nigerians, being the winner of the freest and the fairest election ever in the history of Nigeria on June 12, 1993. Great Yoruba names attempted to become president of the federal republic of Nigeria, including late chief Obafemi Awolowo but could not get it. Some that got it, now in the position of a statesman, including former president Olusegun Obasanjo, who ruled the country as a civilian president between 1999 and 2007 and the incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, because they are still alive, still have their achievements trailing that of MKO Abiola, because even nature supports that a testament becomes more forceful and potent only after the testator has gone.

”Great Yoruba names attempted to become president of the federal republic of Nigeria, including late chief Obafemi Awolowo but could not get it. Some that got it, now in the position of a statesman, including former president Olusegun Obasanjo, who ruled the country as a civilian president between 1999 and 2007 and the incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, because they are still alive, still have their achievements trailing that of MKO Abiola, because even nature supports that a testament becomes more forceful and potent only after the testator has gone”.

June 12 RiotThe world is like a stage where we only have small actors but not small parts, and leadership as a stage also is not a place of permanence, for power is transient and one can only play his part and leave for others. However, in the popular sayings of the Yorubas, “the masquerade that dances first ends up as an onlooker,” and to this end, it behooves on us all to make hay while the sun shines. Whatever our hands find to do, we should do it with all our might. It is interesting to note that there is just one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon and the glory of the stars but one star differs from another in glory. There can be many stars but only one moon, and no matter how short a man is, he will not need help to see the sky. MKO Abiola died a death of a hero, for he dared the undareble and chose to make the commitment instead of contribution. Recall how it is said that the chicken makes the contribution while the pig makes the commitment. For those leaders that have ruled Nigeria before MKO Abiola, who only was decorated with the honor of the president and commander in chief of the armed forces of Nigeria and the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), posthumously and those in the saddle right now, as long as man lives, opportunities abound to make amends, correct mistakes in different capacities, including as former president and the incumbent president, but for him that is dead, a chapter is close but history does not die. MKO Abiola remains a leader with an enviable and unprecedented record to beat, especially having immersed from an election adjudged as the freest and the fairest in the history of Nigeria. His credentials post a challenge to the Nigerian elites especially the politician, lending credence to the importance of the processes that take people to power over and above the positions and offices they occupy.. As 2023 presidential candidate of the labor party Mr. Peter Gregory Obi painted “for you to merit the position of an excellency, the process that takes you to power must be excellent”.

”MKO Abiola remains a leader with an enviable and unprecedented record to beat, especially having immersed from an election adjudged as the freest and the fairest in the history of Nigeria. His credentials post a challenge to the Nigerian elites especially the politician, lending credence to the importance of the processes that take people to power over and above the positions and offices they occupy.. As 2023 presidential candidate of the labor party Mr. Peter Gregory Obi painted “for you to merit the position of an excellency, the process that takes you to power must be excellent”

This is a clarion call for integrity as a trademark for our politicians and a virtue that has long been jettisoned in our society, and the causation of what we have today has bad governance. Nigerians should reflect on the sanctity of June 12 and imbibe the lessons that are there to be learnt especially that of selflessness, sacrifice, integrity and patriotism. The gale of defection from the opposition to the ruling party APC comes to mind as it alludes to the lack of integrity and principle among our politicians. These are politicians who epitomize what a former Governor of Ekiti State Ayo Fayose described as “stomach infrastructure politician who are shameless and lacking in everything that has to do with decorum and morality”. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has the greatest opportunity in life, to either have his name printed in gold or be remembered as one of the worst leaders that Nigeria has ever had. The reason being that Nigeria is at a crossroads and needs not just a leader but a saviour. Therefore, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not living up to his name as “Asiwaju”, meaning in Yoruba the leader and “Jagaba”, meaning in Hausa language the progressive leader, will amount to the miscarriage of a colorful destiny, which to say the least, should have manifested in our world at all today. Congratulations to Nigerians as we celebrate, but beyond, please take time out to introspect and join heads together to move the country forward. Happy June 12 and God bless Nigeria.

By Samuel Tunji Adeyanju,

GMN Chief Executive Officer, USA