From Being The 23rd Born From A Poor Polygamous Family To Winning A Scholarship That Changed Mko Abiola’s Life Forever.
From Being The 23rd Born From A Poor Polygamous Family To Winning A Scholarship That Changed Mko Abiola’s Life Forever.
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (M.K.O.) Abiola was born 1937 and d!ed 1998)
He was a prominent Nigerian businessman, publisher, philanthropist, and politician. He is best remembered for winning the annulled 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest election, and for his struggle for democracy in Nigeria.
Born: August 24, 1937, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
He came from a poor polygamous family and was the 23rd child of his father but the first to survive infancy—hence the name Kashimawo, meaning “Let’s wait and see.”
He showed exceptional brilliance in school and earned a scholarship to attend the University of Glasgow, Scotland, where he studied accountancy and qualified as a chartered accountant.
Abiola worked with International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT), where he rose to become Vice President for Africa and the Middle East.
He became one of Nigeria’s wealthiest men, with interests in communications, publishing, agriculture, and oil.
He founded Concord Press, which published newspapers that were widely read in Nigeria.
Abiola was known for his generosity and supported education, healthcare, and sports.
He funded numerous scholarships and community development projects across Nigeria, earning him national affection.
In 1993, he contested the presidency under the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The June 12, 1993 election was widely regarded as the fairest in Nigerian history, and Abiola was presumed to have won convincingly.
However, the military regime under General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the results, triggering a political crisis.
In 1994, Abiola declared himself the rightful president and was arrested by the military regime of General Sani Abacha.
He was detained for four years without trial.
On July 7, 1998, Abiola died under suspicious circumstances on the day he was due to be released, shortly after the death of Abacha.
June 12 is now commemorated in Nigeria as Democracy Day in honor of his sacrifice.
In 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari posthumously conferred on him GCFR (Grand Commander of the Federal Republic), Nigeria’s highest national honor, typically reserved for presidents.
Abiola remains a symbol of democracy and justice in Nigeria, remembered for his courage, philanthropy, and the enduring impact of the June 12 struggle.
Rest in peace to the legendary MKO, you will be remembered forever..
