Tunde Fagbenle

There’s a wise saying whose author I cannot now remember to the effect that: we die ourselves a little, each time we kill in others something that deserves to live. And I will add, each time we kill or ignore an idea, a sacrifice, which is worthy of being recognised. So be it with June 12 and the symbol of what it represents, MKO Abiola.

 Friday was June 12. What a shame that only Lagos and Ogun States declared the day a Public Holiday for their peoples to mark and reflect on the epochal event of June 12, 1993 when Nigerians trooped out to vote for MKO Abiola as President of Nigeria, regardless of his ethnic origin or religion. What were other States in the West, in the South in general and in Nigeria as a whole thinking of? What is the National Assembly thinking of? Nay, what is President Umaru Yar’Adua thinking of?

 MKO Abiola was denied victory in an election that is universally acknowledged the freest and fairest in our national history. He was incarcerated for insisting on his mandate. He died in captivity. What greater claim to martyrdom can there be? Were Abiola of northern stock, would his sacrifice have remained ignored at the national level? Say, how greater was Murtala Mohammed’s sacrifice, not to talk of Shehu Yar’Adua’s? Why is June 12 not a National Holiday? Why is the National Stadium in Abuja not named after MKO?

 Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, failed to give MKO Abiola his due of national recognition out of spite, personal envy, and veiled docility (in deference to what he falsely considered “Northern disinclination”).

 But, why would Umaru Yar’Adua not show he is made of sterner stuff?

 Let it be known, that even if it takes many more decades, unless Nigeria wakes up to give MKO Abiola his due, we seek to democratically evolve but in vain! Shi kenan.

Robot  # 1 | 15.06.2009 07:00

Tunde Fagbenle There’s a wise saying whose author I cannot now remember to the effect that: we die ourselves a little, each time we kill in others something that deserves to live. And I will add, each time we kill or ignore an idea, a sacrifice, which is worthy of being recognised. So be it with June 12 and the symbol of what it represents, MKO Abiola. Friday was June 12. What a shame that only Lagos and Ogun States declared the day a Public Holiday for their peoples to mark and reflect on the epochal event of June 12, 1993 when Nigerians trooped out to vote for MKO Abiola as President of Nigeria, regardless of his ethnic origin or religion. What were other States in the West, in the South in general and in Nigeria as a whole thinking of? What is the National Assembly thinking of? Nay, what is President Umaru Yar’Adua thinking of? MKO Abiola was denied victory in an election that is universally acknowledged the freest and fairest i...Read the full article.

Gongo-aso  # 2 | 15.06.2009 08:22

Waiting on YA. Are you joking with me? That man will not achieve one positive thing in Nigeria. If we had a stone in his place, Nigeria will be a better place. Stop waiting please, recruit one person for our struggle. We must take all these people out of the system once and for all. Change is coming...

RoyalPalm  # 3 | 16.06.2009 12:59

I suscribe to the school of thought that believes in the philosophy that the great minds are designed to ultimately make others great as well. This is because that superiority is not to be used to break the populace into intellectual vassalage or establish over them a spiritual/political tyranny. It has been originally intended to contribute to assisting them to reflect, think and judge for themselves. The question includes "Does the opportunity which places our leaders by chance by means, by beign in the right place at the right time (like our dear friend we all know) make them the greater party? That line of thought makes me puke actualy! I am truly disappointed I confess as a former student and family friend of His ExcllexitMallam Yar'Adua, he is not fully daya with Mamman N'Geria and herr babies