I was in secondary school when Abiola’s mandate was robbed

Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello and the Director-General of his Presidential Campaign Organisation, Hafsat Abiola-Costello, Saturday led groups of Nigerian women to commemorate the June 12 Democracy Day in Abuja.

The event was reportedly held in respect of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, the assumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Bello said the event was to ensure the vision and hope of Abiola live on.

He revealed that he was happy that almost 30 years after the death of Abiola, his legacy still lives on.

he added that it was a reason he was eager to contest the position of president.

“Today, we are commemorating and remembering June 12, championed by our father, our hero, our legend, our icon, Chief MKO Abiola and Hajiya Kudirat Abiola.”

“I appreciate God Almighty and all those who stood firm, saw a vision, sacrificed and are still sacrificing for the cause of democracy in Nigeria.

“I appreciate our President, Muhammadu Buhari, and his team who deemed it necessary that after 29 years, our father, Chief MKO Abiola, deserved to be well honoured and decorated posthumously with the highest honour of the land, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).”

“I was in the secondary school in 1993 when the struggle began and almost 30 years after, we are here to bear the torchlight of that struggle and hence my decision to contest the presidency so that this hope can be rekindled,” Bello said.

He, also revealed that the victory the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu recorded in the just concluded presidential primary election of the ruling party would bring the vision of MKO Abiola to a reality.

The governor acknowledged that Tinubu was one of those who stood for the June 12 struggle, saying that he would not fail the struggle.

He admonished women to lend all their support and solidarity to the former governor of Lagos state so that he would become the next president in 2023.

“I am happy and comforted that the winner of that APC Special Convention, our leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, won the election, fair and square.”

“He (Tinubu) was right behind Chief MKO Abiola in that struggle and so you can see that our hope is still alive.

Abiola-Costello gave an assurance to Nigerians and women that Tinubu would actualize the dreams of MKO Abiola.

“Twenty-nine years after June 12, 1993, it is still a message of hope. Yesterday, we had the pleasure of being in the important meeting where Gov. Bello received Asiwaju Tinubu at our campaign secretariat.”

“Based on the conversation, there is hope for Nigerian women, there is hope for Nigerian young people, Nigerians with special needs,” Abiola-Costello said.