A video of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola speaking on corruption, nepotism, opacity of the NNPC, forex etc 25 years ago is currently circulating online, even as Nigerians celebrate for the first time Democracy day on the new date – June 12.
In the video, the renown statesman touches on various issues, many of which are still plaguing the country 25 years later and how his Government will tackle them head on, if elected. He was of course elected in perhaps the most free and fair democratic elections Nigeria as ever witnessed. A military coup by General Ibrahim Babaginda however saw that he never assumed office to keep those promises.
Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola was a Nigerian Yoruba businessman who hailed from Ogun State. He was a publisher, politician, philanthropist. He won the 1993 elections which was annulled by the preceding military president Ibrahim Babangida on allegations that they were corrupt and unfair because he [Abiola] won with a landslide.
A Twitter user sharing the video, wrote;
THIS WAS MKO ABIOLA SPEAKING 25YEARS AGO ABOUT THE ISSUES OF CORRUPTION, NEPOTISM, OPACITY OF THE NNPC, OVER-DEPENDENCE ON OIL, ETC. 2&HALF DECADES LATER, WE ARE STILL HERE, PROBABLY WORSE.
THOSE WHO CLAPPED & STOOD WITH HIM THEN ARE THE ONES ENSLAVING US TODAY. #DEMOCRACYDAY
THOSE WHO CHEERED AS HE PROMISED AN END TO TYRANNY & CORRUPTION ARE TODAY CHEERING TYRANNY, LOOTING & IMPOVERISHING OUR CITIZENS.
NIGERIANS MUST UNITE AGAINST THE STAGNATION OF THE MAJORITY BY A FEW AS WAS IN ‘93.
“WE ARE ONE NATION UNDER GOD, OR AREN’T WE?” #DEMOCRACYDAY
Watch the video below.
This was MKO Abiola speaking 25years ago about the issues of corruption, nepotism, opacity of the NNPC, over-dependence on oil, etc. 2&half decades later, we are still here, probably worse. Those who clapped & stood with him then are the ones enslaving us today. #DemocracyDay 1/2 pic.twitter.com/YwZAnkNpAQ
— Ayò Bánkólé (@AyoBankole) June 12, 2019
2/2 Those who cheered as he promised an end to tyranny & corruption are today cheering tyranny, looting & impoverishing our citizens.
Nigerians must unite against the stagnation of the majority by a few as was in ‘93.
“We are one nation under God, or aren’t we?” #DemocracyDay pic.twitter.com/meqanuKV53
— Ayò Bánkólé (@AyoBankole) June 12, 2019
