Hope ’93: Where were you?

Hope ’93: Where were you?

By Oludolapo Okunniga

I was in Ile Ife, aspiring to leave Secondary School. I had one year to go which meant I was, by then, politically-conscious of the players on the scene at the time. We didn’t have the social media but we had televisions and radios.

We were particularly news-friendly then because our parents were close pals with every means of communication. Political debates in Nigeria were discussed across hedged fences in our neighborhood. Did we forget the jingles? Never.
On the March again
On the March again
Looking for Mr President
On the March again
MKO is our man o!
MKO is our man o!!
That man, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale. Abiola (MKO), was imprinted in our consciousness.
We sang the jingles word for word. We danced. We could identify with his cause. He was like the coming saviour in Nigeria on a white charger…like the symbol of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) which means, strength and progress.
Amazingly and interestingly, Nigerians were united for this one candidate…it was MKO or no other.
Perhaps, that was the fear of those who wanted the Nigerian house divided so they could continue to gorge themselves fat with our commonwealth…And an international community who always knew that a united and working Nigeria was an unstoppable force in the global stage. A house united against itself makes it vulnerable and easy for the enemies to infiltrate.
A lizard only gains access into a cracked or gaping wall.
Ologundudu won the election, free and fair. No contest. For the first time, Nigerians, determined to make it work, went out peacefully to vote. While Nigerians waited eagerly for the announcement of the undisputable winner, the military and its cohorts did not declare the election as inconclusive, but it was annulled.
The then military President Ibrahim Badsmosi Babangida, annulled the will, choice, votes and rights of millions of Nigerians.
Sympathizers of IBB have said it was not his will to do but he was at the helm of the affairs so he’s responsible. He was quite bold, I dare say in such dire situation, to annihilate the will that cut across all tribes and tongues without considering the backlash that would follow.
It was a script. And the backlash followed… outrage, protests and arrests of prominent journalists and other front liners of the struggle.
It was a dark period on our history. Killings multiplied and many Nigerians fled and exiled themselves.
And MKO? He would not allowed himself be robbed blind and so he began his own struggles to reclaim his mandate by declaring himself winner of the 93 elections.
The Aare Ona Kakanfo was arrested and thus began his journey to Golgotha.
I don’t think he was perfect. He was a very flawed man like all of us. He was said to have wined and dined with the military who were his close friends and who finally destroyed him.
But this sinner became a saint and had the opportunity to right his wrongs at the end.
He never got to rule Nigeria but he got himself immortalized in the annals of Nigeria’s history and in the hearts of Nigerians.
He was a brilliant man with great ideas and a true philanthropist who rose from poverty to stupendous riches and made many people.
Chief MKO Abiola was great in life. Death made him greater.
He left us when the ovation was loudest.
Rest in Peace, the President we never had.