Buhari's acknowledgment of MKO, a major disgrace on Obasanjo – Lekan Abiola

Mr. Lekan Abiola is one of the children of the late Moshood Abiola, the acclaimed victor of the June 12, 1993 presidential decision which was invalidated by the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida. He disclosed to Eric Dumo what the acknowledgment of that date as Nigeria's Democracy Day by President Muhammadu Buhari intends to the family

A few people have said that the acknowledgment of June 12 as Nigeria's Democracy Day by President Muhammadu Buhari out of appreciation for your late father, MKO Abiola, was simply to score some political point in front of the 2019 races, do you share this view?

I feel that what President Muhammadu Buhari has done is a move long past due. The majority rule government we have in Nigeria today was watered by the blood of many individuals, including my dad, MKO Abiola, and mother, Kudirat. For President Buhari to at last perceive June 12 as Democracy Day is magnificent and we are glad about it.
In any case, we are trusting that he would be announced as a previous leader of Nigeria. On the off chance that he was consulted with the most astounding honor in the nation, the GCFR, which is just gave on presidents, at that point I figure he ought to be proclaimed as one. We additionally need every one of the rights and benefits of a previous president agreed to him. Previous President, Olusegun Obasanjo, profited such a great amount from my dad and had the opportunity to do this yet declined to do as such. We in this way express gratitude toward President Buhari for at last regarding our dad.

Do you feel that President Buhari's activity may have been computed to show disdain toward Obasanjo?

Obasanjo is from a similar main residence with my dad and they even went to a similar school. For him not to have given my dad that respect is a disgrace on him. Nigeria has a place with each one of us. Since Obasanjo declined to make the wisest decision, God had raised some person to do it. Presently, the entire thing is a disgrace on him realizing that he is from a similar town with my dad and he had the opportunity to respect him too.

Do you think there more likely than not been resentment between your dad and Obasanjo and maybe that is the reason he declined to accord him that respect?

At the point when my dad was alive, he generally went to Obasanjo at his home while he additionally came to visit my dad at our place. They had a cozy relationship. At the point when Obasanjo was challenging for the United Nations Secretary General position, I recall my dad working hard to guarantee his development. He went to a wide range of spots to campaign individuals for his benefit, so I don't know when this sudden hatred began. My dad is late now; perhaps Obasanjo can give a response to that.

He was leader of Nigeria for a long time and an incredible recipient of MKO's graciousness yet he couldn't respect him in any capacity. Obasanjo dependably went to our home where my late mother would make 'amala' for him to eat. This same lady got shot for majority rule government and for the eight years you were president, you couldn't specify her name or respect her in any capacity. This is extremely miserable.

Did the family attempt to contact Obasanjo on why he expected to respect MKO while he was in control?

We attempted on a few events and even went to see him however he declined to do it. He never found any motivation to do as such. We say thanks to God that another person had regarded our dad.

Your dad passed on in Sani Abacha's detainment and a couple of days prior, President Buhari who worked under him, turned out to transparently commend the late military ruler, don't you think about this as fraud?

No one is 100 for each penny culminate. As much as we felt he may have been mischievous to our family, I am certain that there are other great things that others may have seen in Abacha. Similarly, on a par with my dad was to us, there may be some terrible things that others would see about him. That is the means by which life is.

Along these lines, if Buhari features one great part of Abacha that he knows, we can't blame him. A couple of years prior, I met with Abacha's better half, Maryam, in Mecca. We discussed these issues. There is not any more ill will between the Abiola family and Abachas. We have left everything to God.

o you see the respect agreed to your dad and late Gani Fawehinmi swinging votes for Buhari amid one year from now's presidential race?

Totally. President Buhari realizes that to win the decision, he needs bolster from the South, so this in my view, is an extraordinary advance that may enable his reelection to offer. Be that as it may, everything relies upon what different advances he takes amongst now and when the race would be held. Many individuals are content with what he has improved the situation MKO. I have been accepting calls from all parts of the nation as far back as the declaration was made.

Prior to the declaration was made, did the President reach the family?

When he was crusading for the 2015 race, I was one of his greatest supporters in the South West and he used to come around to our home. I realized that in the event that he progressed toward becoming president, there would be something from him to us. With his most recent move, he has demonstrated that he had not overlooked us.

In the outcome of MKO's passing, were there additionally other close partners who deserted the family?

Truly notwithstanding when you are alive, Nigerian government officials can at present surrender you. In this way, it isn't astounding to us that after my dad's passing, a considerable measure of his nearby partners were mysteriously gone. Be that as it may, as a family, our trust is dependably in the Almighty Allah.

In the development to the 2015 decisions, previous President Goodluck Jonathan named the University of Lagos after your dad yet there was an open objection over the move, how did the family feel about that?

Jonathan had extraordinary aims however it was erred. The University of Lagos is an establishment that has its own particular special history. He ought to have counseled with the diverse partners previously doing as such but since he didn't, the kickback was the outcome. Nonetheless, we are thankful to him for having that idea.

Ibrahim Babangida, the man who dissolved the June 12, 1993 presidential decision which your dad was declared to be the victor, is as yet alive. Has he at any point connected with the family to apologize?

He has apologized to Nigerians which additionally incorporate us. We have met him a few times and he communicated laments. It is exceptionally shocking yet as a country, we need to proceed onward and learn critical exercises.

There has been discussion of disunity among MKO's kids; do you see this new respect presented on your dad joining every one of you?

I wish it was that simple. What disturbs us is that those controlling the property of our dad are not bookkeeping to anybody of us. It is irritating to see our dad's property relinquished all over the place. Mr. Kola is our first conceived and pioneer. We ask him to make the best decision.

Most importantly, I need to express gratitude toward Nigerians for all their help throughout the years. We are extremely upbeat for the thankfulness they appear for all our dad improved the situation majority rule government. We express gratitude toward them for all the adoration.

Do you believe that if MKO had been permitted to direct the issues of Nigeria, the fortune of this nation would have been exceptional than what it is today?

Totally. He was a man who had the enthusiasm of the general population on a basic level. He had loads of thoughts. You can perceive what he made of his own life when you consider the foundation he rose up out of. I am sure that in the event that he had been president, this nation would have been a superior place than it is today.