In preparation for today’s Democracy Day celebration, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has ordered the renovation of the family home of the late MKO Abiola, the widely recognized winner of the 1993 presidential election.
Located in Abeokuta, the house is being given a facelift to host the many democracy activists who will visit during the celebration.
According to The PUNCH, the Chief Press Secretary, Lekan Adeniran, to governor Abiodun in a statement said the governor directed that Abiola’s house should be given a colourful look for the Democracy Day celebration.
According to the statement, Abiodun wanted the family house of the late Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land to be befitting and conducive for many pro-democracies activists who would be visiting for the celebration.
The Deputy Head of the Abiola’s family, Alhaji Tajudeen Abiola, expressed gratitude to the Ogun State Government for the gesture, which he said would only bring changes not to the Abiola family house alone but to the community as the collapsed external drainage system was also touched.
“We are grateful to the state governor for this kind gesture. The fallen ceilings were replaced, the windows were touched and the old buildings are wearing new looks,” he said.
On his part, the son of the late business mogul, Ameen Abiola, said the family was greatful for the generous disposition of the state government aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the legacy and ideals of their late father.
According to him, the family would always be grateful for the various efforts aimed at bringing alive the memory of their late father.
Abiola, a business mogul and philanthropist, was believed to have won the June 12 presidential election in 1993, which was annulled by Babangida.
Abiola later declared himself as president and was consequently arrested.
He eventually died in detention on July 7, 1998, in very controversial circumstances.
