We’ve been fasting for 8 years –Abiola family

Posted by admin Latest Politics Sunday, June 12th, 2011

It was lamentation galore from members of the family of the late winner of the June 12 presidential election, Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola as Nigerians marked the 18th anniversary of the historic election yesterday.
Leading the family during a remembrance lecture, which held yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, was the younger brother of the late business mogul, Alhaji Mubashiru Abiola.

Abiola whose recall of their sufferings after the death of their breadwinner brought many of the dignitaries near tears, lamented that the entire family of Abiola on whose back many Nigerians rode to power had been abandoned. Specifically, Abiola lamented that the immediate past government in the state neglected the Abiola family urging the Governor Ibikunle Amosun government not to forget the family. His words: “ We fasted for eight years under Governor Gbenga Daniel. We hope you will treat us well like Governor Olusegun Osoba did because he fended for the family.

He added: “ We never had it so bad since our breadwinner died. It was so bad. I plead that the current government in the state should not only remember the Abiola family but the entire people of the state who suffered under the previous administration.’’ According to Abiola, “the family was not destabilised but we were neglected. Thank God, we can now break our fasting. The emergence of ACN has really brought succour to the family and please when you see us enjoying now don’t envy us because we have fasted.”

Kunle Abiola, a former House of Representatives member on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) who joined his cousin in lamenting the neglect of the Abiolas by the state also said, “it is not only the Abiola family that has been suffering but the entire Ogun State.” He cited a particular area in the Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area of the state where he said students found it difficult to go to school because of the terrible situation of roads in the council area.

According to him, the students and other people had to take the risk of crossing over a wooden-bridge to get to school. The younger Abiola also said the family could now heave a sigh of relief with the emergence of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), stressing that the family had been neglected after Chief Olusegun Osoba’s tenure in the state.’’ He commended the Ogun State Governor, Senator Amosun, for his moves to liberate the state, urging him to ensure some congested places in Ogun were decongested.

Former managing director of the defunct Concord Press and one of the wives of the late politician, Dr. Doyin Abiola, in her view lauded the steps taken so far by the ACN-led government in the state.

Addressing the people at the occasion, the state Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, said, “the democracy we are enjoying was the one MKO Abiola sacrificed his life for.

-Sunwp_posts