As
President Muhammadu Buhari honours the late M.K.O Abiola with the
highest national honour in the nation, the Lagos State Government
unveiled a giant statue of the influential politician.
Gov. Ambode during the statue unveiling
Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday, unveiled a
46-feet statue of Nigeria’s symbol of democracy and adjudged winner of
the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, Bashorun Moshood Kasimawo
Olawale Abiola (MKO), expressing optimism that the monument will forever
crystallize what he stood for in his lifetime.
Governor Ambode, who spoke at the unveiling of the statue at the
MKO Abiola Garden in Alapere, Ketu said it was in the tradition of the
State Government to recognise and remember heroes and heroines who
contributed to the greatness of the nation and the State in particular,
adding that MKO Abiola deserves the best from the State as Lagos was his
success story.
Alluding to the fact that a statue was previously sited at the
location, the Governor said that his administration decided to erect
bigger statues for MKO Abiola and late Rights Activist, Chief Gani
Fawehinmi to properly situate their immense contribution to nation
building.
“There was a statue done by my predecessor, Babatunde Raji
Fashola but in the divine world, some things are more glorious than what
you think and so we decided at the end of 2016 that we should do bigger
statues for Chief Gani Fawehinmi and MKO Abiola since almost everybody
passing and entering Lagos go through this particular Ojota axis and so
we started late in 2016 that we should build something bigger and so it
took us about a year to do this. By the time we did the one for Gani to
celebrate his posthumous birthday on April 22, we also agreed that we
should unveil that of MKO Abiola today, June 12.
“But just as if God has a way of crowning all efforts to mark
the 25th Anniversary of June 12, our President, President Muhammadu
Buhari has deemed it fit to give our own MKO Abiola the highest honour
in the land, GCFR and that is why we believe strongly that your presence
here is not just for this statue but it is also historic which we would
always remember in the annals of the history and politics of this
country that sooner than later, there would be one day we would mark as
MKO Abiola Day.
“We are very happy to gather here today at the MKO Abiola
garden to unveil this statue, a monument that will forever crystallize
his legacy, serves as a reminder to the greatness that Chief Abiola
represents in our socio-political landscape,” the Governor said.
He described MKO Abiola as a man who transcended race, tribe and
religion, adding that the late philanthropist appealed to all Nigerians
who voted massively for him during the 1993 Presidential election.
“Sadly, he lost his life trying to secure his mandate. Even
though he was from another State, Lagos was his home. And we recognize
his contribution to our State and our democracy,” Governor Ambode said.
Responding on behalf of the family, MKO Abiola’s son, Abdul Mumuni
Abiola thanked Governor Ambode and the Lagos State Government for the
honour done the Abiola family, saying the statue was indeed befitting to
honour his late father.
“God is great. I heard about this statue six months ago and I
was called to come and see it and when I got here, I saw a statue of
three-storey building. This is indeed massive. The family of late MKO
Abiola really appreciates this and we want to thank the Governor,” Abdul Mumuni said.
He also appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for posthumous award
conferred on his father and declaring June 12 as the Democracy Day, as
well as the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju
Bola Ahmed Tinubu for standing solidly behind the struggle.
“We thank the President for doing what he did. This statue was
planned before the President did what he did and so we want to thank
Governor Ambode for this,” he said.
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