MKO Abiola

Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (1937–1998) was a Nigerian businessman, publisher, politician, and philanthropist. He remains one of the most prominent figures in Nigeria's modern political history, largely recognized as the presumed winner of the annulled 1993 presidential election. **Early Life and Education** MKO Abiola was born on August 24, 1937, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, into a humble family. His father had 23 children, but Moshood was the first to survive infancy, leading to the name "Kashimawo," meaning "let us wait and see" in Yoruba. Abiola worked from a young age to support his family, starting with selling firewood. He received his education at Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, where he demonstrated an early interest in politics, serving as the editor of the school magazine. In 1961, Abiola won a government scholarship to study accountancy at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, where he earned a degree in 1963. He later qualified as a Chartered Accountant. **Career Progression and Business Empire** Abiola returned to Nigeria and worked as a Senior Accountant at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH). He left LUTH for Pfizer, where he served as a financial controller. In 1968, he joined the International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT) Nigeria, eventually rising to the position of Vice President, Africa and Middle East, and becoming the chairman of the Nigerian subsidiary. Under his leadership, ITT Nigeria became a highly successful enterprise. Beyond ITT, Abiola built an extensive business empire encompassing various sectors, including publishing, finance, transportation, and telecommunications. He founded the *Concord Press of Nigeria*, which published the widely circulated *Concord Newspapers*. **Major Achievements and Notable Works** Abiola's legacy is marked by his significant philanthropy across Nigeria and the African continent. He championed the cause of war reparations for Africa and the Middle East, demanding compensation from former colonial powers for exploitation. He held numerous chieftaincy titles and was recognized globally for his dedication to empowering the masses. In 1988, he was awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR) by the Nigerian government, the highest honor usually reserved for Heads of State. **Political Aspirations and the 1993 Election** Abiola's political career peaked when he contested the 1993 presidential election under the Social Democratic Party (SDP). The election, held on June 12, 1993, was widely considered the freest and fairest in Nigeria's history. Early results indicated a clear victory for Abiola, defeating his opponent, Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC). However, the military government led by General Ibrahim Babangida controversially annulled the election results on June 23, 1993, citing unspecified legal irregularities. **Current Status (Post-Career)** Following the annulment, Abiola declared himself the lawful President of Nigeria in the Epetedo Declaration of 1994, leading to his arrest on charges of treason by the military regime of General Sani Abacha. He was imprisoned for four years and adamantly refused to renounce his mandate in exchange for freedom. Moshood Abiola died in custody on July 7, 1998, under suspicious circumstances, the day he was scheduled to be released. His death triggered widespread national mourning and protests. In 2018, the Nigerian government, under President Muhammadu Buhari, formally recognized June 12 as Nigeria's official Democracy Day, replacing May 29. Furthermore, Abiola was posthumously awarded the GCFR. His status today is that of a national hero and a symbol of democracy in Nigeria.