MKO Abiola would have been a PDP member if he were alive - Ekong Sampson insists
- An aide to the governor of Akwa Ibom state, Ekong Sampson, says the late Chief MKO Abiola used his wealth in contributing to the development of Nigeria
- He states Abiola gave humanity respect, not really minding where a person came from
- Hafsat Abiola-Costello says her father helped pay Obasanjo’s school fees
The special adviser to the governor of Akwa Ibom state on political and legislative affairs, Ekong Sampson, has said the resumed winner of the June 12 presidential election, late Chief MKO Abiola would have been a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if he were to be alive today.
The Nation reports that the aide speaking in an interview on Thursday, June 14, said the late MKO epitomized the democratic ideals of the party.
Sampson noted that Abiola used his wealth in contributing to the development of Nigerian sports, infrastructure and paying huge sacrifices for the benefit of Nigerians.
He said:“The essential character in June 12 is the bridge building component of that struggle. I can say clearly that if Chief Abiola were to be alive today, he would be campaigning for the PDP because PDP represents what Abiola lived and fought for.
"As we immortalize Chief Abiola we must learn lessons from the undercurrents that drive his imprint in history and defend what drove their essence. We must be able to protect the character of their struggles and, to me, the character of that struggle is embedded in the principles of democracy; that the wish of the people must be respected.
"We must show that we believe in the ideals that drive June 12 and to me the bigger picture is the bridge building narrative because June 12 brought Nigeria together across the religious, ethnic and other narrow considerations. That is the Nigeria of our dream.”
“I got to know Chief Abiola in my early years as a sports writer. Abiola gave humanity respect, not really minding where a person came from."
Meanwhile, the daughter of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, Hafsat Abiola-Costello, has said that her father and former president Olusegun Obasanjo were classmates and that he (Abiola) used to help the former president with the payment of school fees.
Speaking at the emotion-laden event where Abiola was honoured with the GCFR award on Tuesday, June 12, Hafsat said some people they considered as close friends of their father abandoned them when the June 12 controversy began, only to start calling the family’s phone lines when President Muhammadu Buhari proclaimed June 12 as Democracy Day and conferred a posthumous award of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic GCFR on the late democrat. The Nation reports.
Democracy Day: When Should We Celebrate It? | Legit.ng TV
Source: Legit.ng
