June 12: Gov. Abiodun directs Housing Ministry to renovate MKO Abiola’s house
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Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has directed the Ministry of Housing to immediately give a face-lift to the house of late MKO Abiola, at Gbagura, Oja Agbo Abeokuta, in preparation for Democracy Day, on Wednesday.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, before leaving office declared June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria, as against May 29, to celebrate the sacrifices made by Abiola in the quest for restoration of democratic government in Nigeria.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Lekan Adeniran, and made available to newsmen, in Abeokuta, the state capital, on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the governor wanted the family house of the late Aare Oba Kakanfo of Yorubaland to be befitting and conducive for many pro-Democracy activists who would be visiting for the celebration.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Head of the Abiola’s family, Alhaji Tajudeen Abiola, has expressed gratitude to the State Government for the gesture , which he said would not only bring changes to the Abiola family house alone but to the community as the collapse external drainage system were also touched.
“We are grateful to the State Governor for this kind gesture. The fallen ceilings were replaced, the windows were touched and the old buildings are wearing new looks,” he said. On his part, the son of the late business mogul, Ameen Abiola said the family was greatful for the generous disposition of the State Government aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the legacy and ideals of their late father. According to him, the family would always be grateful for the various efforts aimed at bringing alive the memory of their late father
Abiola, a business mogul and philanthropist, was believed to have won the June 12 presidential election in 1993, which was annulled by the then Military President, Ibrahim Babangida. He later declared himself as president and consequently arrested.
He eventually died in detention on July 7, 1998, in very controversial circumstances.
