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Jamiu Abiola, son of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, has voiced strong concern over what he describes as a deliberate effort to erase his father’s legacy.
He believes that Nigeria lost a rare chance at economic transformation when MKO was denied the opportunity to lead the nation following the annulled 1993 presidential election.
Speaking during Channels Television’s June 12 Special Forum, held to mark 26 years of uninterrupted democratic governance in Nigeria, Jamiu reflected on the country’s trajectory and the pivotal moment that could have reshaped its future.
According to him, 1993 presented a unique global economic environment that a visionary leader like MKO Abiola could have leveraged for national prosperity.
“That period in 1993 was a remarkable time in the global economy. There was a momentum that Nigeria could have ridden on,” he said. “Had my father been allowed to take office, the country would likely have experienced a different, more prosperous economic reality.”
Instead, he lamented, the country fell into the hands of what he described as a corrupt military regime, which he implied did more harm than good to the nation’s economy.
Without directly naming names, Jamiu alluded to the leadership of General Sani Abacha, saying, “What did we get instead? A kleptomaniac ended up in charge. I won’t go into details about Abacha—he has his own problems wherever he now finds himself.”
Jamiu, who currently serves as Senior Special Adviser on Linguistics and Foreign Affairs to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, expressed dismay over what he sees as sustained efforts to diminish his father’s pivotal role in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
He shared how, beginning around 2015, he began to notice a trend—foreign dignitaries visiting Nigeria would frequently reference other political figures, while leaving out MKO Abiola, the widely acknowledged winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
“People would come from abroad and talk about Yar’Adua and others, but not mention Chief MKO Abiola,” he said. “It became clear that there was a subtle attempt to erase his name from the democratic story. As my father would put it, they were trying to shave his head in his absence.”
Determined to counter this narrative, Jamiu took action. In 2015, he published a book titled The President Who Never Ruled, aimed at preserving his father’s memory and ensuring future generations understand the depth of his sacrifice for democracy.
“I wrote that book so that no matter how hard they try, his name will continue to resonate in the history of Nigeria’s democratic struggle,” he explained.
He, however, acknowledged a major turning point in 2018, when President Muhammadu Buhari posthumously honoured MKO Abiola with Nigeria’s highest national title, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR).
That same year, Buhari officially recognized June 12 as Nigeria’s new Democracy Day—a move widely applauded as a long-overdue acknowledgment of Abiola’s unmatched contribution to the nation’s democratic journey.