Family demands entitlements meant for president, 23 years after Abiola’s death

Having endured 23 years without their breadwinner and acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993 Presidential election, the family of Moshood Kashimawo Abiola has requested Federal Government to pay all due entitlements meant for Nigeria’s democratically-elected president since he was legally elected by Nigerians.

They alleged that if Nigeria could accord Ernest Shonekan, Head of Nigeria’s Interim Government ‎in 1993, who ruled Nigeria less than six months and not being elected by Nigerians, all the entitlements and honour meant for president, adding that all the entitlements that had been accumulated over the years, should be paid to the family of ‘slain president’.

Speaking at the procession and prayer held at Oke-Iddo, Gbagura country home of Abiola held in the presence of Yetunde Onanuga, deputy governor and Suraj Adekumbi, speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Muritala Abiola, younger brother and head of family, noted that the family is left alone to suffer in abject poverty, having lost Abiola, family’s breadwinner.

He said, “The first thing the family wants is that for example Ken Saro Wiwa died on this Ogoni oil splil, they (Federal Government) are doing the oil splil now. MKO was killed because of election he won may be it is you journalists or the Nigerian government calling him acclaimed winner. He is not acclaimed winner, they should confirm him as slain President of Nigeria.

“After all somebody ruled for may be six months, they (Federal Government) said he is Interim Government, he is still enjoying Presidential privileges. So, MKO should be declared President, although slain, so all the entitlements belong to the family.‎”

Speaking against those Southwest governors ‎who did not declare June 12 holiday, the family head particularly spoke against Ibikunle Amosun-led Ogun state government for his disposition on the holiday declaration and his absence at the prayer session, alleging that the State House of Assembly had earlier passed a law, compelling government to declare holiday, but Amosun broke the law.

Muritala Abiola, the family head said, “I don’t want to raise eyebrow because as of today I am aggrieved that’s my own opinion. People are telling us about rule of law. On June 12, Ogun State House of Assembly enacted a law, declaring June 12 every year public holiday. Just before yesterday when we went to Oke-Mosan we are hearing that because it falls on Sunday there is no public holiday.

“It means the Ogun State government brakes the law because if it October 1st that falls on Sunday, they will give them public holiday on Monday, it is just the same thing, but I believe we don’t have leaders, we have opportunists.”

The family also requested Ogun state government to return the Secondary school, Salawu Abiola Comprehensive High ‎School, built by MKO Abiola at Osiele area of Abeokuta, but was taken over by the State government, explaining that the return of the school to the family would accord them opportunity to contribute their quota to the development of the state.

RAZAQ AYINLA