Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, his Ondo State counterpart, Olusegun Mimiko and other prominent personalities yesterday marked the 17th anniversary of Chief MKO Abiola’s death. At the remembrance ceremony, Ambode said the late Abiola represented the face of struggle as well as prosperity for a better Nigeria.
“MKO Abiola, for us represented the face of prosperity and struggle. For us, his spirit and commitment to the sustenance of democracy is what is currently guiding our administration in the discharge of our duties. We know quite well that any administration that doesn’t kill poverty, is indeed killing Abiola for a second time,” Ambode said.
The governor, who was represented by a permanent secretary, said it was in an effort to tackle poverty that his administration created Ministry of Wealth Creation, while at the same time increasing power supply with the creation Independent Power Project (IPP).
At a similar occasion organized by three of Abiola’s children, Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko said the 17th anniversary is “a call to leaders to make sacrifices like the late business mogul.” Mimiko, who was represented by his Commissioner for Environment, Sola Ebiseni, also said late MKO Abiola deserved recognition for his selfless service and “paying the supreme sacrifice for the sustenance of democracy.”
In his remarks, former Lagos State military administrator and Chairman, National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), retired Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, said the 1993 presidential election was much more than an election, but a referendum. “On June 12, Nigeria actually had a referendum, not just election. It was a contest between military and civilian administration. As we gathered, we upheld the spirit of Nigeria. As we remember MKO, we must be mindful of the fact that we have a duty to defend true federalism,” Kanu said.
