MKO Abiola, The Nigerian President That Never Was... part2

MKO Abiola, The Nigerian President That Never Was... part1 Click here

BECOMING FRIENDS WITH THE MILITARY

ALLIES: The khaki boy and the tycoon. Credits: MKOAbiola.org

MKO Abiola’s foray into politics is a convoluted one in the sense that it did not actually start out with a clear political end in mind. An astute businessman and dedicated accountant, MKO Abiola’s early days were like that of any other entrepreneur –maximize profits and minimize costs. However, when MKO Abiola became friends with the military boys, his fate took another turn, one that would eventually land the Bashorun six feet under. The late General Murtala Muhammed  became friends with MKO under very funny circumstances which will be explained shortly. In the year 1975, Murtala Muhammed became the Federal Commissioner (Minister) of Communications under the Yakubu Gowon government.

-Business had brought MKO Abiola and his military friend, General Murtala together. MKO Abiola was to execute communication contracts for the military in return for favourable business deals. The military boys on the hand, would also benefit from sweet deals and kickbacks (for your information, there was a Lockheed scandal involving the highest-ranking officers of the Nigerian Air Force under Gowon).

But how did Murtala and MKO become friends? It was all about money o. Money would cause kasala. The Federal Government owed the company of their friend-contractor, International TT,  the huge sum of N7,000,000 (seven million naira). For more than three and half years, they kept posting MKO Abiola and a dime was not paid to him. In trying to get his payment, MKO inadvertently clashed with his ferociously angry friend, General Murtala (who was then a Colonel in the Nigerian Army and was the Commander of the Signal Corps). The clash with Murtala, a man known for his volcanic temper and the anger of a nuclear weapon almost led to the two men exchanging blows. Murtala shouted and Abiola shouted back. The government would either pay him or two deadi bodies go meet Baba God. He would not leave that place until they paid him the money shangiliti. An incorrigibly stubborn Murtala had just met an equally tenaciously unwilling Abiola. Iron had just met iron and one has to bend…

STUBBORN: Murtala, shown in here in the middle in 1967. He and MKO almost exchanged blows over money. Photo credits: AP/UYI OBASEKI/NIGERIAN NOSTALGIA PROJECT.

At that point, Hassan Umar Katsina, the Chief of Army Staff  came in and intervened. The matter was settled and a cheque was issued to a jubilant MKO.

  An obstinate man of fire and steel himself, Murtala was impressed with the courage of this ‘bloody’ civilian who looked him in the eye and stood his ground. He was not even afraid of all the guns and soldiers. That was Abiola, he could be very fearless and stubborn, especially when it comes to what he strongly believed in. His courage would later lead to him giving the ultimate sacrifice for democracy to thrive in Nigeria.

  After the all the fury, the encounter came to a mild end. Abiola got his money and the duo became nice friends. Abiola's warm relationship had started, and ironically, same was the trip to his own early grave. The rapport with the military continued even after Murtala's assassination in 1976. When Obasanjo came to power, it continued until Baba Iyabo handed over to Shagari and MKO attempted to mutate and go with the flow of the turbulent world of politics.

After the saga of politics with Shagari and the rest, Abiola would later become very visible during IBB’s regime (MKO was accused of providing a hefty sum of $10million during the naming ceremony of his child to IBB who was a guest for the overthrow of the Buhari/Idiagbon regime which impounded a huge consignment of contraband newsprint that Abiola had imported into the nation). He publicly supported IBB’s policies and did not even hide the rapport. In fact, he gave out his senior editor at Concord, Duro Onabule, to serve as IBB’s Chief Press Secretary. In 1993, MKO Abiola instructed Bayo Onanuga to apologize to Babangida for an article in 1992 (the edition was titled Has Babangida Given Up?) that was critical of the military president.

THE MILITARY PRESIDENT: MKO Abiola and Ibrahim Babangida had a love-hate relationship. Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons.

An irate Babangida had closed down the publication and demanded an apology before it would be reopened.  But rather than apologize, Onanuga left Abiola’s media empire and alongside his friend Babafemi Ojudu (now a Senator representing Ekiti State Central) , Dapo Olorunyomi, Kunle Ajibade and one other staff member at the African Concord formed their own publication and named it TheNews.Onanuga is now the brain behind what many Nigerians now know as PM News, one of the hottest online news portals for Nigerians. Upon walking out on MKO and his military friend, Onanuga said:

Journalism is not meant to make the environment cosy for leaders of nations. It is meant to prod them to act in the interest of the larger society. It is meant to give them sleepless nights. 

THE BUSINESS GURU

Abiola bestrode the business world like a colossus and here is a breakdown of his roles and positions:

 -He was the  Chairman and Chief Executive, ITT Nigeria Limited.

As the ITT boss.

-Founder, Publisher and Chairman/Chief Executive, Concord Press Nigeria.

-Founder and Chairman and Chief Executive, Radio Communications (Nigeria) Ltd.

-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive, Wonder Bakeries Limited.

-Chairman, Summit Oil International Limited (this was the largest Nigerian-owned oil exploration company).

-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive, Abiola Farms Limited.

-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive,  Concord Airlines Limited.

-Chairman, Decca WA Limited (later Afrodisia Limited).

-MKO Abiola was also the Chairman/Chief Executive of Low Priced Books Limited,   African Economic Digest, Abiola Bookshop Press Limited, African Concord Limited  and Abiola Bookshops Limited.

At a point in the 1980s, Abiola's firms and companies employed over 5,000 people in Nigeria and all over the West African subregion.

ENTERING POLITICS

CHIEFTAINS: MKO Abiola talking with Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, Bamanga Tukur (current PDP chairman) at an SDP convention in the 1990s.

-MKO came into the public limelight in 1978 when he was appointed to the Constituent Assembly.

-The time came in 1979 when General Olusegun Obasanjo wanted to hand over to a civilian government, the field was suddenly opened to ambitious politicians like the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Shehu Shagari and others. However, MKO Abiola, who entered partisan politics in 1978 when he joined the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), colluded with the military working towards the eventual defeat of Awolowo. MKO’s ambition to become the Chairman of the NPN would be frustrated by a combination of forces dreading his wealth and influential position, and also adding to the fact that MKO intended to use the chairmanship post to actualize his presidential ambition. When he could not achieve this, he stormed out of the NPN with fury.

NPN was the party of President Shagari and one of his ministers, Umaru Dikko (transport) even taunted Abiola that the presidency was not for sale. When MKO Abiola joined the NPN, it was the ruling party and they were in control of Kwara, Bauchi, Niger, Rivers, Sokoto, Benue and Cross River states. There were four other political parties making a total of five registered parties. These were the:

-Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN): This was Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s party and he had lost the presidential elections to Shagari. However, his party was in total control in the five Southwestern/Midwest states of Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun and Bendel.

-Great Nigerian Peoples Party (GNPP): This party was led by Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim and the party was in control of Borno and Gongola States.

- Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP): This party was led by the Owelle of Onitsha, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and was in firm hold of Imo, Anambra and Plateau States.

- Peoples Redemption Party (PRP): This was the party of the late Mallam Aminu Kano and controlled Kano and Kaduna States.

- After MKO Abiola stormed out of the NPN, he retraced his steps back to the UPN, Awolowo’s party. He even went to Mama HID Awolowo and prostrated stating that he would not stand up until Mama forgave him for his sins. He was forgiven and later swept Ogun State with 97%, even trouncing Obafemi Awolowo’s records. Following Shagari’s victory, MKO had faded away from politics and continued making his money only for him to get involved in some clandestine activities with his military friends.

- MKO later became disgruntled and dissatisfied with his army friends in power. At a seminar of the Nigerian Army in Minna, Niger State in 1984 during the Buhari regime, MKO did not hold back its scathing criticism of the military government. He blasted:

If we are to turn our backs on our past mistakes, we must sincerely and vigorously pursue the idea of accountability of government to the people. Government by secrecy and concealment was largely responsible for the injustice, the corruption and the mistakes of the last administration. Now, we seem to be accepting that the ‘public’s right to know’ is inconsistent with military rule. I firmly believe that this is only a smokescreen. People’s right to know, which promotes accountability, does not relate to any specific form of government. It is rather a question of attitude. Any system that holds that the people are entitled to maximum information about how their governments operate, so that it can be more responsible and accountable to them, will welcome the idea of less secrecy and concealment…

Abiola and IBB’s friendship blossomed with time but as IBB was reluctant to vacate the seat of power even after MKO had given him the sum of $10 million to help overthrow the duo of Buhari and Idiagbon in August 1985, their relationship would become strained.

It became so bad that by March 1992, Abiola’s media outfit via its African Concord magazine was firing a salvo of criticism against the IBB regime. The military junta responded by closing down all of Bashorun’s businesses domiciled in Nigeria, both the media-based and the ones related to the media. Things had started falling apart. Their relationship would then assume a sweet-sour dimension.

MKO ABIOLA THE SOCIALITE

The following are memorable pictures of MKO Abiola during his lifetime. He was a very sociable man, highly gregarious and leaving an imprint in the minds of those that met him.

Cutting the cake. PHOTO CREDITS: Professor Oluwatoyin Kole, Florida, USA.

With Sir Shina Peters. The same SSP would later sing in 1998 for Abacha to continue in office.

FAAJI: Wedding at the residence of Late Chief Olola Moyosore Aboderin off Marine Road, Apapa Wharf; Lagos, 1978. Photo credits: Ademola Oba-Gbadebo.

MKO Abiola with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II. Photo credits: Otunba RhodeIsland.

AT MANDELA'S INAUGURATION: Ogbonnaya Orji (Radio Nigeria), Yemi Fakayejo (Voice of Nigeria) & Chris Ngwu (NTA) with Chief M.K.O. Abiola in Pretoria, during the inauguration of Dr. Nelson Mandela as president in 1994. Photo credits: Adeyemi Fakayejo.

THE INTERNATIONAL MAN: With the head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and Metropolitan of Sofia, (Patriarch Maximus), His Holiness, Maxim I. Photo credits: Creative Commons.

MKO Abiola with the late Alhaji Danjuma Haruna at an event. Photo credits: HONOURABLE MUHAMMED SANI IMAM

MKO Abiola with the late NF Aina. Credis: Sola Ige Jongbo.

WITH SDP-USA: With Titus Folayan, Sola Ogunbode, Bukky Babalola (Oyingbo), The Princess, Jacob Sodiya, MKO Abiola, Abiodun Akinola, Diran Fadojutimi, Rose Ezidinma Ogbonna, Kunle Badmus, Muritala Akintunde, Muritala Akintunde (Olubadan) and Akib Abiola at MKO's hotel suite on 16th and K Streets, NW, in Washington, DC, SDP-USA Executive, 1993. It was his first visit to the USA after having escaped Abacha's cruelty. He would later return to Nigeria and be arrested. This is one of his last photos. Credits: Abiodun Adepoju.

MKO Abiola with Felix Jongbo. Credits: Sola Ige Jongbo.

MKO Abiola with Chief SK Babalola. Credits: Sola Ige Jongbo.

MKO Abiola with Chief Olumiluwa. Photo credits: Sola Ige Jongbo.

MKO Abiola with Ayo Adebowale. Credits: Sola Ige Jongbo.

MKO ABIOLA DURING AN ICAN CONFERENCE

Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). At the conference, he was the Special Guest. All the credits for the pictures go to Mr. Ademola Somorin, also of ICAN. Have a nice time with them!

L-R: Mr. Ademola Somorin with late Chief MKO Abiola and past president of ICAN, late Chief E. Oke and an ICAN member.

Late Chief M.K.O. Abiola with some ICAN members.

Late Chief M.K.O. Abiola with past president Chief Omidiora.

Late Chief M.K.O. Abiola and some ICAN members.

The special guests, Chief Subomi Balogun with late Chief M.K.O. Abiola.

With the special guest, late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, and Chief Hillary Onukogu.

The late Chief M.K.O. Abiola and late Prince Ashaye, past ICAN President.

MKO Abiola with guests at the conference.

THOSE SMILES AND HEARTY LAUGHTER SHA: MKO Abiola and some guests.

Late Chief M.K.O. Abiola and Chief Akintola Williams and a guest.

Late Chief E. Oke with Late Chief M.K.O. Abiola and Chief Arthur Mbanefo.

Late Chief M.K.O. Abiola and a past ICAN President.

THE GUY WITH THE CHARM: Late Chief M.K.O. Abiola and some guests.

HIGH SOCIETY: Late Chief M.K.O. Abiola with past president Arthur Mbanefo and Chief Nwokolo.

AT AN ICAN SEMINAR

From right to left, Ademola Somorin, late Chief MKO Abiola and some ICAN members at one of ICAN seminars.

THE FOLLOWING WERE TAKEN AT DELE MOMODU'S WEDDING IN December 1992

Here is the late Bashorun Moshood Olawale Kashimawo Abiola (MKO Abiola) at the wedding of the Ovation publisher and later presidential aspirant, Dele Momodu in 1993 at Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State.