Barely 28 years after, former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday lamented the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election, presumably received by the late philanthropist, Moshood Kashimawo Abiola. He blamed the cancellation on “unhealthy belle”.
The election, adjudged to be most peaceable, credible and honest, was annulled by the army President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.
Obasanjo stated the annulment robbed Egbaland and Ogun State the uncommon privilege of getting three of its distinguished sons occupying the primary management place within the nation at completely different occasions.
The elder statesman, who was referring to former Head of Interim Nationwide Authorities(ING), Chief Ernest Shonekan, himself, who ruled the nation first as a army Head of State and a civilian president, apparently famous that Abiola would have turn into the third, if the 1993 presidential ballot was not annulled.
He spoke yesterday in Abeokuta after his investiture as a trustee of the Abeokuta Membership, a socio-cultural organisation of Egba folks of Ogun State, the place Tokunbo Odebunmi, an engineer, is the president
Obasanjo was honoured alongside the late Abiola, who was awarded a posthumous vice-patron of the membership.
The previous president, who famous that Abiola was his schoolmate on the Baptist Boys Excessive College (BBHS) Abeokuta, stated the late politician well-deserved the award bestowed on him by the Abeokuta Membership.
Obasanjo stated: “When Abeokuta Membership was within the means of being birthed, issues in Abeokuta weren’t as rosy as they’re at present. And the sons of Abeokuta, who had been in Lagos, put their heads collectively in late Chief Sobo Sowemimo’s residence to think about what they may do to enhance the event of Abeokuta as a metropolis. I pay tributes to all these founding members, those that have departed this world and those that are nonetheless right here.
“I wish to thank the membership for this honour being bestowed on me and the honour being bestowed on my college mate, MKO Abiola, which he well-deserved.
“Kabiyesi, the Alake (of Egbaland) alluded to it. Usually, while you win a cup 3 times, you retain that cup. Isn’t it? If not for unhealthy belle, Abeokuta would have produced President of Nigeria 3 times, by which case, we must always have stored it completely.
“However be that as it could, we have now a terrific heritage. And we ought to be pleased with our heritage. On this word, I’ll say on this event, I thank the President, the patron and grand patron, members of Board of Trustees, the manager. I wish to say this, I’ll proceed to contribute my quota to the event and development of this membership and by extension, the event and development of Abeokuta, of Ogun State, of Nigeria, of African and certainly the of world in whichever manner I might.”
Additionally, Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, whereas presenting the plague to Obasanjo, described Obasanjo and MKO Abiola as proud sons of Abeokuta.
He added that some “unhealthy blood” didn’t permit Abiola to emerge President of Nigeria.
