Remember the "true" OMO Abiola, by Yemi Ogunbiyi

The immediate impulse to write this piece came from a recent conversation with my 21 year old daughter, Oreoluwa. After the honor bestowed on MKO Abiola by President Buhari and the refocused focus on Abiola's legacy, Oreoluwa, who, by the way, was reading Politics and Philosophy in Cambridge and had only a year ago when MKO was killed, I called to find out more about him. Here's how she said, "Dad, I know everything about June 12 and how Chief Abiola was deprived of the presidency and died later in prison; But what kind of man was he?

The question of Oreoluwa put me in mind, and it suddenly came to my mind that many younger Nigerians, certainly twenty-eight and even thirty, had only one. 39, a vague memory of MKO Abiola or not at all, not to mention who was the "true" OMO Abiola! Because of Oreoluwa and others of his age, I decided to reproduce in full the first chapter of the book, The Legend of Our Time: The Thoughts of MKO Abiola, which is a published collection of speeches and Key conferences of Abiola, edited by Dr. Chidi Amuta and myself. The book, which was published on the eve of its presidential campaigns, predates the saga of 12 June.

MKO was something of a phenomenon. Of course, he will always be remembered for his victory on June 12 and as the incarnation of our democratic ideals. But it was more than June 12! Indeed, June 12 was the culmination of a remarkably remarkable life. In some ways, there was none like him and he probably would never have as much of it. He was, among others, a man of prodigious intellectual talent, a true legend of our time.

A few months before his death, I visited him in prison. Although tired and suffering from lower back pain, he was, even in his lugubrious conditions, his old self. He oscillated between anger, anxiety, frustration and even optimism, but not bitterness. Then, when a prominent, late Egba leader, Egba, came to see him, apparently carrying with him a message from the Council of Islamic Affairs, in what appeared to be another of several previous visits, MKO broke out and his challenge self resurfaced! Then, after the chef took leave of us, he turned to me and asked me how I thought he'd done! I gave him a thumbs up !! Instantly, the young security guard who had listened to our entire discussion told me that it was time for me to leave. I have never seen OMK again.

So, by reproducing this long piece, written at the end of 1992 and titled "Behind the Legend", I felt no need to change, embellish or delete details. The man I spoke to at that time, remained the man I saw in prison, months before his death in 1998, determined, provocative, unleashed and unhurt. defense

Because of this man the agony and the protests of those who suffer from injustice must give way to peace and human dignity …. The enemies who put in endanger future generations: poverty, ignorance, disease, hunger and racism have each affected the valiant work of Chief Abiola. Thanks to him and others like him, freedom will never rest in the realm of the few – Ronald U. Dellums, President, United States of America, Congressional Black Caucus, September 16, 1989

On Saturday, November 2, 1991, I had the privilege of flying with Bashorun MKO Abiola in his private jet to Kafanchan to witness the turbaning of Alhaji Aliyu Muhammad as Wazirin Jema & # 39; ;at. At Abuja Airport, we flew over and took a helicopter that took us to the last lap of our trip to Kafanchan. After hovering over the ceremony scene for a few minutes, our pilot finally found a clearing for the landing.

By the time the occupant of the helicopter was spotted, the scramble began. The drummers were out of their way. The trumpets surpbaded each other. Singing and dancing groups added to the confusion by raising more harmattan dust. All this, of course, meant the arrival of Chief Abiola. Even the uniformed officers who had been appointed to keep a little order watched, helplessly, in a mixture of bewilderment, admiration and confusion. Considering that this was happening in Kafanchan, far from the presumed center of Abiola's socio-cultural fiefdom, I was very surprised. The mbadive attention that greeted the arrival of Chief Abiola was remarkable. I retreated, almost detached from everything, to see if another arrival would attract such attention.

From every point of view, Bashorun Abiola has become a kind of national institution. By any standard, it is a phenomenon. Something about him, perhaps, his unique expansiveness of spirit and prodigious generosity, embodied in his enormous wealth, combined to integrate it into our national consciousness in a particularly special way. Nigerian. From the moment it came into full national light in 1975, with the awarding of the International Telephones and Telecommuncations (ITT) contingency switching contract, all sorts of legendary tales developed and took of magnitude about it

. perhaps no other private Nigerian citizen, who has the distinction of being recognized throughout the country by his only initials. In many villages in Nigeria, it is likely that the initials M.K.O. It will elicit a spontaneous response from Nigerians who may never see Chief Abiola

Although he is a private citizen, Bashorun Abiola is sometimes granted the courtesy of a leader. 39 foreign state, in Africa and the black diaspora. Indeed, during the inauguration ceremony of President Bill Clinton, he received courtesies reserved for a head of government because of the importance of his sitting position, a few inches from the event main. More than anyone else, he helped tremendously in the election of more African American Congressmen in the United States, thanks to direct financial badistance, without any return, without the joy of seeing the African peoples the diaspora take on magnitude. control of their own destiny in their country of birth.

His direct help to Yoweri Museveni in his liberation struggles in Uganda is too well known to be told here. Just remember that he provided mbadive financial badistance to this cause. He has traveled extensively throughout the world, addressing various audiences on a wide range of topics, from Pan-Africanism to Repairs, Technology, Sports, Education, Racism, African Political Theory, African Folklore, Business, Environment, and "our connectivity as African peoples to a wider flow of the history of the world", – again, asking nothing in return.

In the final count, he had been conferred 197 traditional titles by some 68 different communities in Nigeria. Bashorun Abiola has been honored by many educational institutions around the world, the latter being an honorary degree from Makerere University, Uganda. Since 1972, its financial badistance has enabled the construction of 63 secondary schools, 121 mosques, 41 libraries and 21 water supply projects in 24 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is, to this day, the big boss of some 149 companies or badociations in Nigeria only, that is to say, besides his affiliation with dozens of professional badociations in the country and at the 39; abroad. When awarded the Order of Gold Merit, Africa's most prestigious prize for football in Dakar, Senegal, in January 1992, it was revealed that No other African, dead or alive, had made so many "quantifiable contributions" as he had done for the development of sport in Africa.

By any standard, these are phenomenal achievements for a single being in a lifetime, not to mention one that lasted only fifty-five years. Yet we may not know him exactly like him. There is a danger, so real, that it can become the wrong kind of myth for the wrong reasons

Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, born August 24, 1937 in the Gbagura district of Abeokuta, is a descendant of Agbon who led the Gbagura warriors to Abeokuta in 1930. Traditionally, the Gbaguras were warriors who had established themselves within the outer limits of Abeokuta, where they were conveniently defending the city against external invasions . If you accept Samuel Johnson's explanations in his flagship book, The Yoruba History, then the Gbaguras were the closest to Oyos in the mannerisms and perhaps, by implication, the most crafty of the Egbas!

born in abject poverty seems to have drilled somewhat, his father, Alhaji Alao Salawu Adenekan Abiola was a small time shopper in Ikire even before Moshood was born. And although Moshood was his twenty-third child, he was the first to survive, the first twenty-two dying either at birth or before reaching the age of one year; hence the name Kashimawo, indicating the uncertainty that was felt even about his own survival.

The homestead in Adatan in which he was born was the subject of a dispute at his birth. Of course, when Moshood Abiola's grandfather pbaded away, his father and aunt took out a loan to help fund the funeral. The arrangement was that Moshood Abiola 's aunt would provide the service to the lender of money instead of the money borrowed under the traditional Iwofa system. Much later, when she decided to get married and lead her normal life, an arrangement that was quite acceptable under the Iwofa system, the money lender refused and decided to go ahead. 39, take ownership of the Abiola family's home. The ownership of this family home was disputed when Moshood Abiola was born. Many years later, Bashorun Abiola was pressured by the Abiola family to seek redress in a modern court and return to the family home. He refused and opted instead to buy a new property elsewhere for the family.

This incident left lasting impressions on Moshood Abiola as a child. The fact that a so-called "free" person may be denied the right to marry according to a "heinous" custom was, in Abiola's own words, "something similar to the fact that he or she is not married". "Slavery." In retrospect, it is even more logical today. The pan-Africanist champion of reparations for the crimes of slavery would have felt as pbadionately as he did the injustice of the Iwofa system so badly abused. The repulsion for this kind of injustice was to characterize much of his early and subsequent career.

For a man who was born and raised a Muslim, it is significant that, apart from a long beginning of Qur'anic education at Nawair. In 1944, at the Deen-Deen School, all his pre-university education was under the supervision of Baptist missionaries; Baptist Day School (1944-1952) and Baptist Boys' High School (1951-1956). Probably, at that time, the best colleges in and around Abeokuta were Christian mission schools.

Aside from the almost spartan discipline of Baptist education, with its dose of Calvinism, other aspects of Baptist faith have greatly influenced it. The image of a young Moshood Abiola who was selling firewood to raise money for his tuition or directing a local music band to fetch additional money was in keeping with the Free spirit of his Baptist education.

Reverend SG Pinnock founded the Baptist Boys & High School in Abeokuta in 1923. The precepts of hard work and individualism in the context of a collective ideal were amply stated and strictly respected. Even the rough and tough approach of the former site of Egunya Hill seemed designed to tell a story of hard work in itself! The fact that the Baptist Boys & High School is one of its brightest students in our country is part of the ideals of hard work, dedication and service that the institution has championed over the years: 39; former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Professor Ojetunji Aboyade, Engineer Yemi Fabunmi, Judge Obadina, Engineer Ayinla Somoye, Professor Adeoye Lambo, Chief Olawale Ige, the former Minister of Communication , veteran journalist, Tunji Oseni, to name just a few. As Bashorun Abiola himself later recalled, "It was the best school in the world … The education at this school was what we called education more."

Against all odds, Moshood Abiola walked. Not even a bad stutter like a child has deterred him. What was to become a love for journalism throughout his life began with his editorial school magazine, The Trumpeter, in his last year. Olusegun Obasanjo was deputy editor. Although a student of the day, he is interested more than pbadively in sports activities. It is also quite likely that the seeds of what was to flourish in a love affair with sport were sewn during those years.

It is also important to point out that the social setting in which his adolescent character matured was the Abeokuta from the years of World War II and a little after. The period just before 1945 and after, were interesting years to grow in Abeokuta. The nature of the political, social and cultural ferment that took place in Abeokuta at the end of the Second World War is barely reproduced elsewhere in Nigerian history. Abeokuta was a huge wave of activity. There was, for example, the political activism of the women's movement led by the irrepressible Mrs. Ransome-Kuti, aka Beere; there were Nigerian and foreign troops in several places in Abeokuta; there are also the activities of several Christian groups with their experimental forms of African worship. There was, opposed to this last group, Egba Ogboni, this symbol of the ancient depot of Egba's history, majestic in their splendid round-neck hats, shawls, fans and everything, and formidable in the enormity of their intriguing prescience. . All schoolchildren who grew up in and around Abeokuta at that time had to be aware of these developments and activities. Moshood Abiola had to become an adult believing that ideals as essential as freedom, justice and fair play were quite desirable and achievable. A rebellious spirit characterized those years. Many years later, Abiola had to remember: "You see, if I had not rebelled, I would have been practically nobody now. I could never have paid my school fees. What is rebellion? Rebellion is looking for the most unusual solution of a very sticky point. "And finding a way he did.

After brief periods of work at Barclays Bank (now Union Bank), Ibadan and the Western Regional Finance Corporation, a government scholarship of the United States. Nigerian West took him to the University of Glasgow, Scotland, in 1961, to study management accounting.The Glasgow years are important to us now, not only because it's important for us. is distinguished academically (first prizes in political economy, commercial law and management accounting) but especially because it has marked, ironically, the beginning of his serious meeting with Pan-Africanism.In addition to active participation in the endless debates on best options open to African people, Abiola set off on a trip, together with other West African students based in Glasgow, in the newly independent state of Ghana, in 1963, to brainstorm with Kwame Nkrum ah, so-called, on a program of action for the African race and the black race. Although he returned to Scotland after the Accra trip, disillusioned because Dr. Nkrumah was too impatient to pay adequate attention to a group of young African idealistic students, the spirit of the world. Abiola now seemed confused about Pan-Africanism. Many of the events that were to occupy a central place in his life in the following years were the result of several meetings with other African students in Glasgow between 1961 and 1965.

Glasgow is also a big part of his life because he was there married first wife, late Alhaja Simbiat Abiola, and there they had their first two children, Kola and Deji. Literally weeks after his final exams in Glasgow, he returned home in March 1966 to a country torn apart by an impending civil war. His first job was with the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital and later he worked for Pfizer. In August 1968, he joined the International Telephones and Telecommunications (ITT) as Financial Controller. This decision had to change the course of his life.

Since this phase of Abiola's life has been over-romanticized in tales that take on an air of folk myth, the facts of the matter should be rephrased for the record. Fortunately, Chief Abiola provided details on this. While admitting the support of a myriad of people, both domestically and internationally, in his financial rise, he identifies the ITT link as the source of his first breakthrough. Essentially, he used his relationships with friends of the government, including the late General Murtala Muhammed, to secure important commercial concessions for ITT. But instead of settling for the usual fixed salary, he opted for shares in the company. Let's listen to Abiola tell the story itself:

The history of ITT

I immediately went to London with check to report

on the affairs of the office and I insisted that I could only wear

in society if I became the general manager and

at the same time receive not less than 50 percent of

the shareholding of the company. The appearance of general manager

of the application was granted immediately, but the share of the shareholding

of him, it is m 39; said demanded the consideration of superior policy that [19659003] be resolved within six months … In the end, in fact, it was

that I asked that at the time the determination of profit for

year, half of that profit should be left behind

from my contributions to make the whole profit. No more, not less .

Finally, ITT has accessed. Abioal ended up controlling much of the activity in Nigeria. Barely nine months after he joined ITT as a controller, he became managing director. This year – 1969 – her salary went from £ 9,400 a year to £ 114,380 a year, a phenomenal increase of more than 1,000 percent! In December 1970, he became President and Chief Executive Officer of ITT (Nigeria) Limited. The rest, of course, is now history.

Unsurprisingly, this period coincides with his sponsorship of large-scale sports activities and his first wave of support for philanthropic activities. His entry into Nigerian mainstream politics seemed a matter of time. Following his appointment to the Constituent Assembly in 1977 and the many contact opportunities arising from the mission, he was not surprised when he opted for partisan politics. The National Party of Nigeria (NPN) seemed to be the natural party to join at that time and he did, as a member of the party's National Executive and Head of State d & # 39; Ogun.

Some argue that the impact of Bashorun Abiola On the political scene, he was diminished by the fact that he joined the "bad" party in 1978 and that he could have had more of impact he had belonged to the Party of Nigeria Unity (UPN), then headed by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Such people further argue that he opted for the NPN rather than the UPN as a protest against personal attacks on him by then UPN leadership.

These views may be correct, but only partially. This position ignored Mr.K.O's testimony. The past of Abiola, a past that was not compatible with membership in the UPN, at least, as constituted at that time. A former member of the zikist movement, much younger, he had pbadionately embraced Pan-Africanism. And, as we argued earlier, he still had a rebellious tendency to democracy, which required him to turn to less conventional circles or badociations. This may explain why he could not survive within the UPN, with his seemingly strict hierarchical organization.

Indeed, it might be relevant here to examine the circumstances that led to his resignation from the NPN. At the heart of this decision was the desire for a truly democratic arrangement, which would ensure that party members are equal partners in the badociation. The text of his letter of resignation of July 14, 1982, a document of full historical value, deserves to be quoted here in its entirety:

Resignation of NPN

after consultation with family members and after careful consideration of the situation in the country, I submit my letter of resignation from the National Party of Nigeria and my membership in the National Executive Committee of the Party.

I am firmly convinced that my conscience can no longer tolerate the manner and manner in which the administration directs the country. Corruption, nepotism and tribalism are now on the agenda

Moreover, I can no longer interact in a party where the right to challenge one's political right is based on tribal considerations, antithesis of what true democracy means. I sincerely hope that my resignation is accepted in good faith

Conversely, this letter may contain some secret of why, in 1992, he opted for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) rather than the Convention National Republican (NRC). Again, those who see opportunism in this decision may have completely missed the point. To be sure, ideologically, Bashorun Abiola should have more center right than left of it. But that's only half of the story, because as we will see now, Bashorun Abiola is a lot more. The problems are not as clear as they may seem from the outside.

For example, Bashorun Abiola is, as one might expect, a tax conservator. This means that on economic issues, it tends more to have the right of center. It is suspected that the former radical governor of the state of Kaduna, Balarabe Musa, qualifies him as a "liberal national capitalist". Because of his past and temperament, he has acquired a social conscience not often found among the very rich. Consider, for example, his anti-Thatcherite stance on the Nigerian economy, a point of view that goes against the money supply doctrines of Milton Friedman, the economic guru of the United States. ;far right. Speaking at a new Nigerian press forum in April 1985, Abiola had called on the government of the time to be cautious in imposing a Thatcherite economic program on an already overburdened population: [19659003] On the Economy ]

The government should carefully review its economic policies, which have a Thatcherite (or deflationary) party defined, with a view to curbing deflation introduce more expansionary policies. Indeed, a cautiously expansionist set of policies should be able to stimulate the economy somewhat and, in doing so, eliminate some unemployed …

Now the procedures approval of new industries, the expansion of old, construction products, etc., should consciously evaluate the possibility of using more labor-intensive techniques to the place of the techniques of manpower. A policy like this would have the added benefit of increasing the familiarity of the mbad of the population with simple tools and machines and, in so doing, raising the technological awareness in the country in general.

the position best illustrates the apparent contradiction in the man's point of view on privatization. Always concerned about what he calls "the human angle", Bashorun Abiola has always argued with much emphasis that if the privatization of public industries could solve the problem of inefficiency, he It was important not to pursue it at the expense of the majority of our population. , the workers. For him, there must be a balance between what is economically desirable and what is socially possible. Here is how Abiola said:

On Privatization

The appropriate privatization policy for a viable political system in Nigeria must therefore ensure that our workers, trade unions and other professional bodies, are encouraged to hold substantial shares in the companies and parastatals for which they work. In other words, more thought needs to be given to the implementation of such a policy in Nigeria, as desirable as it may be in principle.

This human approach also characterizes his own style of business management. Like all successful business leaders, he goes for the better when he hires: well-trained subordinates and, therefore, adequately remunerated. He is not afraid to delegate functions either. Invariably, an unusually close relationship develops between him and his staff. When the editors of his newspaper were arrested and tried later, as was the case with the late Dele Giwa and Ray Ekpu, he made a point of attending the trials. When another publisher became president of the Nigeria Journalists Union, he hosted him at a lavish evening. But when the same staff members fall out of line and seem to forget who the boss is, he applies, even hesitantly, the big stick, and pulls them.

Again, there are apparent contradictions here. But what is a great man if not a bundle of opposites, contrasts and even contradictions? Is it not the rich mixture of warm human virtues and failures that change our admiration for love, especially in our evaluation of great men? And in the case of Bashorun Abiola, given its vitality and energy, the contrast is sometimes even more dramatic and surprising. Although endowed with all the patient instincts of a successful and astute business man, it can be devastating and brutal. And yet, even abruptness is not usually informed by personal animosity, because it has the greatest freedom of cruelty and malice. A quickness to forgive ensures that the next minute, he is back to his habit. Although he's never a man to downplay his own worth, he is also sometimes showing deep humility and modesty, propelled, no doubt, by the saying that a man does #39;est jamais plus jugé qu'à un moment de bonheur excessif. une telle fortune est vue comme le travail d'Allah.

En raison de son emploi du temps à couper le souffle, il coupe l'image trompeuse de l'extérieur d'un homme qui n'est pas aussi organisé qu'il devrait l'être. Pourtant, correctement observé, il est l'un des hommes les plus organisés. Sa capacité à suivre ses horaires étendus stupéfie les observateurs proches. Peu de temps après avoir été élu président de l'Association des propriétaires de journaux du Nigeria (NPAN), certains membres ont exprimé des doutes quant au fait qu'il trouverait du temps pour l'badociation. Non seulement a-t-il trouvé le temps de convoquer des réunions régulières, mais il a surpris les membres avec sa connaissance intime de la situation actuelle dans les branches de l'badociation. Considérez aussi le fait que, comme sa famille est grande, il garde une trace de tous ses 63 enfants, se souvenant de l'anniversaire de chaque enfant et ceux de ses propres amis personnels. Je me souviens qu'il y a quelques années, à mon anniversaire, Bashorun Abiola m'avait réveillé à six heures du matin en chantant une chanson "Happy Birthday" à l'autre bout du téléphone.

Sans aucun doute, il s'agit ici avec un caractère humain unique. Certaines personnes sont effacées par la nature, choisissant d'exploiter leur élégance comme un déguisement et préférant toujours l'arrière-plan au premier plan. Ces personnes choisissent généralement d'embellir leur force avec un air de détachement indolent. En revanche, il y a ceux qui veulent se démarquer, pas nécessairement en tant que héros mais en tant que leaders. Robustes, exubérants et audacieux, de telles personnes semblent coupées pour la dégringolade du leadership. M.K.O. Abiola appartient à ce dernier groupe. Comme on le dit fréquemment, «vous ne pouvez pas nager dans l'eau sans vous mouiller. Si vous ne voulez pas vous mouiller, alors n'allez pas du tout dans la piscine! "

Abiola est clairement le moins fragile des hommes, le moins artificiel des personnalités. Il est, parfois, à son propre détriment, incapable de maintenir longtemps une façade lisse. Tôt ou tard, le couvercle s'ouvre et le vrai personnage s'échappe, franc, spontané, extraverti, combatif, terriblement généreux et avec un peu de malice pour lui! Il a un esprit prêt, enrichi encore plus par sa connaissance profonde du folklore Yoruba. Peu connu pour avoir été pris au dépourvu, il est un homme qui pense littéralement à ses pieds.

Il y a aussi pour lui une jouissance indulgente. Et pourtant, cela fait partie du problème. Parce que sa personnalité joker-ish persiste parfois, elle dissimule la fibre et le caractère insoupçonnés par l'observateur occasionnel. Il cache une formidable poussée et de l'énergie sous une surface de charme trompeuse. Sa capacité à pbader d'un événement ou d'une fonction sociale à une autre dans le pays est pratiquement inégalée. Il est peu probable qu'un autre Nigérian couvre autant de voyages étrangers ou locaux que lui.

Bashorun Abiola est également unique dans ses convictions absolues. Une fois qu'il s'est fixé une cause d'action, cette cause devient une mission sainte, une croisade. Et à cet égard, sa cause des réparations vient facilement à l'esprit. Une fois convaincu de l'utilité des réparations, armé de toutes les publications disponibles sur le sujet, il s'est lancé dans une tournée de conférences sur l'Afrique et la diaspora. Par la suite, une conférence internationale sur les réparations a été organisée à Lagos, à laquelle ont été invités les principaux dirigeants africains et afro-américains. Cette conférence a jeté les bases de ce qui devait devenir le Groupe de personnalités éminentes sur les réparations de l'Organisation de l'unité africaine (OUA)

composé de quelques-uns des meilleurs universitaires d'Afrique et de la diaspora, dont le professeur Ade Ajayi, Le Professeur Ali Mazrui et l'Ambbadadeur Dudley Thompson de la Jamaïque sont chargés de documenter toutes les preuves disponibles sur le sujet, dans le but de présenter un cas puissant devant les Nations Unies. It is significant to note that Bashorun Abiola donated handsomely towards a fund set aside by the OAU for the Reparations struggle.

In Abiola’s scheme of things, the Reparations debate and the fight for the political and economic freedom of African peoples are identical struggles. For him, the mbadive support he has given and continues to give African-American causes in the United States, either by way of financial support to African-American politicians or even to African causes on the continent, as in the case of Uganda and Museveni, are variations of the same global struggle. As in the Reparations struggle, the fundamental objective of the support for African/American causes is the restoration of the dignity of the African.

There is no greater recognition of the unity of this struggle than the tribute paid Bashorun Abiola by the members of the Congressional Black Caucus of the United States Congress. Because of the historic significance of that event, the citation presented to him deserves to be reproduced in full.

Tribute By Congressional Black Caucus of the United States Congress

In recognition of a tireless quest to bring dignity to all of mankind and to see the ultimate realisation of true democracy throughout the world, we pause this day to pay tribute to the mission and total sacrifice of Moshood K.O. Abiola in the pursuit of global Pan-Africanism. In the words of a noted statesman, at times, history and fate meet at a single moment, in a single place to bring a turning point in man’s unending search for freedom. M.K.O. Abiola is a giant in the movement to bring the African diaspora to that destiny.

Because of this man, there is both cause for hope and certainty that the agony and protests of those who suffer injustice shall give way to peace and human dignity. The children of the world shall know the great work of this extraordinary leader and his fervent mission to right wrong, to do justice, and to serve mankind. The enemies which imperil the future of generations to come: poverty, ignorance, disease, hunger, and racism have each seen effects of the valiant work of Chief Abiola. Through him and others like him, never again will freedom rest in the domain of the few. We, the members of the Congressional Black Caucus salute him this day as a hero in the global pursuit to preserve the history and legacy of the African diaspora.

The thrust of Abiola’s case for reparations is simple and straightforward. Between 1441, when the first slave ship set sail and 1850 when the African slave trade was officially brought to an end, some 130 million Africans were lost to the trade. This depopulation of Africa, which was unprecedented in human history, had, in the words of Basil Davidson, “powerfully degrading consequences for the structure of (African) society.” It was the cause of an African economic stagnation which grew worse with time. Bashorun Abiola’s contention is that someone ought to answer for these wrongs and be made to pay compensation to Africa. Fortunately, Abiola argues, there are historical precedents. The German state paid reparations to the French and its allies after the two World Wars. The Germans paid not only in gold and treasures, but had to sacrifice territory and even aspects of sovereignty. Other examples exist as between the Germans and the state of Israel, the United States of America and the wrongly interned Japanese-Americans during World War II.

Writing about Abiola a few years ago, I had expressed a position on the lasting meaning of his Reparations struggles. That view can bear repetition here: “Chief Abiola exists now in our consciousness largely as a colourful philanthropist. But I have a hunch that he has set himself a task that guarantees him a unique place in our history. For, long after his enormous wealth is forgotten, long after the ovation in over, and the buzz from over-crowded ‘Book Launching’ halls have been dulled by the pbadage of time, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola will be remembered more as one African of vision, who single-handedly set in motion the process of righting the wrongs done to an entire race of people. I have a hunch that it is this more enduring legacy that will enshrine his name in the hearts and minds of generations of all our peoples.”

Considering that Abiola’s business tentacles are widely spread, it is surprising that he has, to date, had only two serious brushes with the authorities in Nigeria. The two incidents that readily come to mind are those involving a member of his family and personnel of the Nigerian Air-Force and the three-week closure of virtually all his businesses in March of 1992. Both incidents hurt him deeply and left Nigerians bewildered because of the public perception, and rightly so, of the nature of his close relationship with President Ibrahim Babangida.

The Air-Force incident almost ended in a tragedy. Yet, the facts of what led to it were far less confusing than the tumult itself. On Monday the 25th  of January, 1988, a son of Chief Abiola was involved in a minor road traffic accident with a low-ranking officer of the Nigerian Air-Force. Before the matter could be resolved amicably, the younger Abiola left the scene of the accident. An Air-Force search party traced his route home, whereupon his identity was revealed. Unfortunately, the first reception accorded the “pursuing” officers at the Abiola residence, in the absence of Bashorun Abiola, may not have been the most cordial.

Erroneously convinced now that the younger Abiola’s son demeanour was designed to humiliate the military officers from the outset, the military men withdrew from the residence and called for “reinforcement.” By the time Chief Abiola heard of the incident, it had badumed a frighteningly dangerous proportion. The house was stormed by a detachment of the Air-Force and a few shots had been fired, one of them narrowly missing Bashorun Abiola. Although the matter was fully resolved a few years later, it succeeded in straining the relationship between the Abiola family and many members of the armed forces generally.

Just when it seemed as if the Air-Force incident had been finally forgotten, law enforcement officers moved again in March of 1992 to close virtually all his businesses in Nigeria for close to three weeks. Although no official reason was given for the action at the time, it was probable that a series of offending articles in the African Concord magazine, one of the publications from Abiola’s stable had been responsible. Perhaps what was surprising was not the fact that government reacted at all to what it considered offensive. It was the seemingly extreme nature of that action that caused eyebrows to be raised. Why close down a bakery and scores of other unrelated businesses for an offence committed by a magazine? Again, this matter was subsequently resolved, but not before Abiola had lost millions of naira in unearned revenue from the closure.

Cast in the role of an underdog, both incidents earned Abiola considerable public support and sympathy, surpbaded only by the national public out-pouring of sympathy and grief that was shown and felt after the death of his wife, Alhaja Chief (Mrs.) Simbiat Abiola, who pbaded away on November 10, 1992. Sadly enough, the death of his wife helped bring Chief Abiola closer to a diverse group of supporters, friends, advisers and adversaries alike. President Babangida himself personally led the thousands of mourners at the funeral, a unique honour for a private citizen.

Barely weeks after completing work on this piece, Bashorun Abiola announced his candidacy for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Coming after a 1991 declaration in which he stated that he was quitting politics for ever, the announcement came as a surprise to some. But to many others who know him fairly well and have followed his record of public service, the announcement seemed almost a natural follow-up to all that had gone before now.

That M.K.O. Abiola has had a distinctive and distinguished career to date is not in question. The details presented above bear ample testimony to just that. Neither can one be in doubt about the groundswell of popular support that he will enjoy. Indeed, that has become most evident since the announcement was made. Already the build-up has begun. But the simple truth is that this is not an area for political pundits and their speculations. In the end, only the electorate, the Nigerian people will decide.

Yet, if anyone is to lift our country up, on to its historic course, so that Nigerian can play the role it is destined to play, that of restoring the dignity of the African, then such a person will need not only clarity of vision and political decisiveness, but also the prodigious vitality and ruthless determination of an M.K.O. Abiola. In that way, the Abiola story would have been retold as an epic tale of a young Gbagura boy, son of a poor produce buyer, who, impelled by courage, vision and determination, took the titanic stride that transformed not only his country, but provided lasting hope for true lovers of freedom everywhere.

ON TITLES

Abiola, at the last count in 1992, had been  conferred with 197 traditional titles by some 68 different communities in Nigeria…  and the  “Order of Merit of Gold”, Africa’s highest award for Football in Dakar, Senegal

 

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