Abdul Abiola, son of late Chief MKO Abiola, has expressed deep emotion and disappointment over the delayed national acknowledgment of the sacrifices made by his parents in the fight for Nigeria’s democracy.
Speaking via @politicsngr during the Democracy Day commemorations on June 12, Abdul Abiola emphasized that while the nation now celebrates the legacy of June 12, it took Nigeria decades to fully admit and honour the pain, struggle, and ultimate price paid by his father and mother, Kudirat Abiola.
“My parents gave everything for democracy. It’s bittersweet that Nigeria is only now fully acknowledging their sacrifice. This truth should have never taken so long,” he stated.
Chief MKO Abiola, presumed winner of the annulled 1993 presidential election, was detained and later died in custody in 1998. His wife, Kudirat, was assassinated in 1996 for her pro-democracy activism.
While successive administrations had shied away from formally recognizing the import of their sacrifices, President Muhammadu Buhari, in 2018, posthumously honoured MKO Abiola with the title Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) and declared June 12 as Nigeria’s official Democracy Day.
Still, Abdul Abiola’s remarks reflect lingering frustrations in the hearts of many Nigerians who believe justice and reconciliation have remained incomplete.
