Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (often referred to as M. K. O. Abiola, August 24, 1937 - July 7, 1998) was a Nigerian Yoruba businessman, publisher and politician, though he was an accountant by training. He ran for the presidency in 1993, and won, but was denied the opportunity to become President when the election results were annulled by a court during the regime of Ibrahim Babangida.
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Early life and career
Abiola was born in Abeokuta, Ogun State.[1] His early career was with the ITT Corporation, where he later rose to the position of Vice President, Africa and Middle-East. Abiola, along with ex-military leader Olusegun Obasanjo, was "name-dropped" at the end of musician Fela Kuti's 25-minute political screed "International Thief Thief", which led to Fela's arrest in 1983 on faked currency charges.
Presidential elections
In the presidential elections of June 12, 1993, Abiola was the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (his running mate was Baba Gana Kingibe) and overwhelmingly defeated his northern rival, Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention. However, the election was annulled by Ibrahim Babangida, and subsequent events led to General Sani Abacha seizing power later that year. When Abiola declared himself the lawful president of Nigeria, he was accused of treason and imprisoned. He is widely believed to have won what was considered to have been Nigeria's freest and fairest presidential election. He has been referred to as Nigeria's greatest statesman.[2]
Detention
Abiola's wife, Kudirat, was murdered during a demonstration for the release of her husband in 1996. His daughter, Hafsat Abiola, later became a democracy activist and founded the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy in honor of her mother. Abiola died on July 7, 1998 — the day he was due to be released from captivity — allegedly from a heart attack.
References
- ^ Hamilton, Janice. Nigeria in Pictures. Page 70.
- ^ Dibie, Robert A. Public Management and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: Military-bureaucracy Relationship, Page 51.
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