June 12: Abiola Rehearsed Inauguration Speech In Front Of Mirror – Hafsat

The first daughter of Chief MKO Abiola, Hafsat Abiola-Costello, has revealed how her late father rehearsed his inauguration speech in front of a mirror in anticipation of his swearing-in before he later died in prison.

Chief Abiola was arrested and consequently thrown in jail by late military President, General Sani Abacha, for declaring himself president after his presumed victory at the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

Abacha had seized power in the ensuing political crisis that trailed former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida’s annulment of the June 12 election.

But speaking during the Federal Government’s recognition of her late parents’ sacrifices for the country’s democracy, Hafsat recalled how Abiola would ‘‘stand in front of the mirror, preparing how he will speak to Nigerians in his inauguration speech.”

At the investiture ceremony which took place today, President Buhari conferred the GCFR title on Abiola while bestowing the GCON honours on the late politician’s running mate, Baba Gana Kingibe, and late human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi.

In her acknowledgement speech, Hafsat recalled her mom’s narration of Abiola’s preparation ahead of his victory at the 1993 presidential poll.

“The results were coming in and he thought he was going to be able to deliver it (his inauguration speech). I will start, ‘Fellow Nigerians….’ But he will start again. He kept struggling to think of what to say to the people of Nigeria,’’ she said.

“All MKO wanted to say to the people of Nigeria and all MKO ever did say to the people of Nigeria is ‘I love you, the people of Nigeria, I believe in you, the people of Nigeria.

“He was born Yoruba but he loved Hausa people, Kanuri people, Efik people, Igbo people. He loved all,” she said, adding: “You just needed to be a Nigerian and MKO was your man. There were so many things he did to show this, that was why the people of Nigeria.”

Hafsat said by honouring her father, President Buhari has revived the struggles of Nigeria’s heroes and heroines.

“You have called up your own new army for the defence of this country.

“President Muhammadu Buhari, this fight will not take you as it has taken MKO but let us fight and bring about the conclusion of MKO’s struggle that the Nigerian people should be the ones in full control of this country,” she said.