After several years of denials, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Saturday admitted that the late business mogul and undeclared winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Moshood Kashimaawo Olawale Abiola, deserves to be honoured or his sacrificed for Nigeria.
Obasanjo, who spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, at the fourth Founder’s Day celebrations and 85th birthday of the founder/patron of the Nobel House College, Olatunde Abudu, lamented that Abiola was denied being the President of the country due to what he called ‘bad belle’.
The former President, was reacting to a statement by the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, who said bad ‘belle’ robbed Ogun of producing three Presidents. Obasanjo acknowledged the contribution of Abiola to the development of Nigeria in all areas of human endeavours, saying the late politician sacrificed a lot for the development of the country.
Obasanjo, a special guest of honour at the event, spoke in the presence of a former Head of Interim National Government, Ernest Shonekan; a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola; governor of the state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; and some traditional rulers.
Others dignitaries at the event include Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Lekan Alli, Major General Oluwole Rotimi (retd) and Ayora Kuforiji-Olubi.
The remarks came days to the 15th anniversary of the annulled June 12, 1993 election, as Obasanjo acknowledged that Ogun has produced many firsts in different spheres of life.
“Yes, I agree, Abeokuta would have produced a third President if not for bad ‘belle’. They did not allow him to be President,” he stated, adding that “He deserved to be honoured because he sacrificed for Nigeria.“
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