Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo has spoken yesterday on the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election which was believed to have being won by the late business mogul, Moshood Kashimawo Abiola.
The former president spoke on Sunday in Abeokuta during his investiture as a Trustee of the Abeokuta Club; a socio-cultural organisation of the Egba people of Ogun state.
The late business mogul, Abiola was also awarded a posthumous award as vice patron of the club. Yesterday was the club’s 46th President Party which was held at the Party’s secretariat in Abeokuta.
Obasanjo said Abiola deserves the award bestowed on him. He described Abiola as his school mate at the Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta. He then commented that the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election robed Egbaland the rare privilege of having its sons occupy the exalted seat of presidency three different times.
Chief Ernest Shonekan ruled Nigeria as Head of Interim National Government and then Obasanjo ruled first, as a military Head of State and later as a two time civilian president. He then noted that Abiola would have being the third if the 1993 election was not annulled.
Obasanjo said “I want to thank the (Abeokuta) club for this honour being bestowed on me and the honour being bestowed on my school mate MKO Abiola which he richly deserved”.
“Kabiyesi, the Alake (of Egbaland) alluded to it. Normally when you win a cup three times, you keep that cup. Isn’t it? If not for bad belle (hatred), Abeokuta would have produced President of Nigeria three times, in which case we should have kept it permanently”.
“But be that as it may, we have a great heritage and we should be proud of our heritage.”
The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo presented the award to Obasanjo. He then praised him and Abiola as proud sons of Egbaland.
Obasanjo on his part thanked the club and said he would keep being committed to the club, to Abeokuta and Nigeria at large.
