June 12! The Hero of Our Struggle Must Not Die in Vain

June 12! The Hero of Our Struggle Must Not Die in Vain

On a day like this, there is need for operators of our democracy to reflect over the functionality of our nascent democracy viz a viz the delivery of dividends to the electorates. June 12 has become a day that can not be easily forgotten in the annals of the nation. It is a day Nigerians came out en masse to vote the late business mogul, philanthropist and pillar of sport Bashorun MKO Abiola of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) as President in a keenly contested election..

The election regarded as the freest and fairest by the local and foreign observers was later annulled by the military administration of Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida in a controversial manner. The rest is now history!

The man at the centre of the struggle remain committed to getting his voluntarily given mandate thus vigorously pressurized the government of the day to retrieve his mandate and ascend the highest office in the nation but was later captured and dealt with before his death in the later year. The supporting roles of the NADECO, the NANS, registered unions, social movements, traditional rulers can not be over emphasized.

One thing was clear in the struggle that Chief MKO Abiola died in the course of seeking for change in governance as reflected in the coming out of the Nigerian people to vote out the military juntas having over stayed their welcome with the attendant intimidation, oppression, and forceful rule. It then translate to the fact that Chief MKO Abiola died in the course of seeking justice, fairness and equity. He fought to install a democratic rule and bring sanity to Nigeria unfortunately, he died with his dream.

To this end, rather than marking a day like this with. merriment, street matching, public lectures etc. Operators of our democracy should stand tall for what MKO died for by delivering dividends of democracy, alleviate the sufferings of the people, install sanity and do away from oppression, victimization, dictatorship, and other forms of unjustly acts.

On our part as a political party, we shall strive to promote democratic norms, ideal principles of justice, fairness and equity to install sanity if given a key role to play in the next dispensation. Our administration will not remember the "sacrificial lamb" with merriment, street matching and public lectures alone but live to the dreams of the late business mogul by delivering the dividends of democracy having felt the pulse of the masses.

We pray to God Almighty to comfort the family of the deceased and equally grant the "symbol of democracy" an eternal rest..

Adieu! Bashorun Moshood Kasimawo Olawale Abiola, the Aare ona-kankanfo of Yorubaland.

RIP MKO.