Kola Abiola, the first son of the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Moshood Abiola, has maintained his characteristic silence in spite of the posthumous honour conferred on his father by President Muhammadu Buhari.
President Buhari on Wednesday announced June 12 as Nigeria’s new Democracy Day, replacing May 29.
He also conferred Nigeria’s highest national honour, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on the business mogul who died in government custody in July 1998.
The GCFR is customarily bestowed on Nigeria’s Presidents.
Nigerians irrespective of tribe and politics have applauded Buhari for the honour which many believe is long overdue.
Kola Abiola, who oversees the affairs of his late father’s estate, has, however, kept mum.
Not some of his sisters though.
“Words cannot truly express how happy I feel, Hafsat Abiola-Costello wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday morning.
She also composed a poem in which she accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo, regarded as the chief beneficiary of Abiola’s death, of attempting to erase her father’s name.
“I thought the chief beneficiary would ask the country to observe a minute of silence in memory of MKO, Kudirat, Alfred Rewane, Umaru Yar’Adua, Bagauda Kaltho, the thousands of students, the tens of thousands of journalists, traders and politicians who lost their lives fighting to actualise an unjustly annulled election.
“Again, I waited in vain for he started his inauguration speech…
“And nothing was said.
“The first four years passed and it became clear that the goal was to erase the name of the man whose sacrifice paved the way for our democracy.”
Her sisters, Wura Abiola and Rinsola Abiola, in messages posted on Twitter, also expressed gratitude at the honour coming 25 years after Nigeria’s freest and fairest election ever.
Dearest Daddy, Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale #Abiola GCFR. Wonderful to finally be able to write this, 20 years on! Thank you President #Buhari. pic.twitter.com/68gMW3t81b
— Wura Abiola (@wura_abiola) June 6, 2018
It’s going to be 20 years since daddy passed away in July. Two whole decades. This is coming really late but better late than never.
— Rinsola Abiola (@Bint_Moshood) June 6, 2018
Abiola’s former personal assistant, Lisa Olu Akerele, however, told Punch that Kola campaigned underground for the honour bestowed on his father.
“Mr Kola Abiola, myself and other well-meaning individuals have been campaigning underground for years for this honour to be done.
“The good thing is that it has taken a former soldier like President Muhammadu Buhari to right the wrong done by a misguided soldier like General Ibrahim Babangida,” Akerele said.
Kola, 55, is the son of Abiola’s late first wife, Simbiat.
Some of his half-siblings have accused him of shutting them out in the management of the family estate.
