When Chief (Mrs.) Kudirat Abiola, a staunch, fearless and unrepentant activist for the revalidation of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election won by her husband, Chief MKO Abiola, fell to the bullets from the guns of unknown assailants on June 4, 1996, many Nigerians did not really expect her and her family to get justice, as her murder was allegedly on the orders of some state officials.
But their hope for justice for the late amazon, whose promising and inspiring life was cut short at the prime age of 44, was rekindled, when the military finally relinquished power and handed over to an elected civilian president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on May 29, 1999.
With the new democratic dispensation, Nigerians became optimistic that an end has come to their endless wait for justice for Kudirat and other Nigerians, who lost their lives and limbs in the course of the struggle for the revalidation of the results of the annulled June 12 elections.
However, their hopes were soon dashed as it did not take long for it to dawn on Nigerians that for Kudirat and other martyrs of democracy, justice might remain far-fetched and even a mirage.
Eighteen years after democratic rule returned to the country, the strident cries for justice by the families of Kudirat and other victims have yet to recede.
While some, especially relatives, believe that discharging and acquitting principal suspects charged for her assassination-Major Hamza AlMustapha, Mr. Lateef Shofolahan and others-is a rape of justice, others describe the development as a case of some ‘untouchable Nigerians’, who are above the law.
Nigeria far from democracy our parents sacrificed their lives-Abdul Abiola Reflecting on her parents’ untimely death, Kudirat’s last child, Mr. Abdul Abiola, expressed disappointment with the level of governance in the country.
He lamented that the level of poverty in the country had deteriorated when compared with what it was before 1993, advising government at all levels to ensure the provision of basic amenities for the masses.
“Nothing has changed since 1993 as the country is still a far cry from the democracy my mother fought for. She fought for a democracy that would enthrone responsible government and fight poverty in Nigeria. But there are more poor people in Nigeria today than we had in 1993,” he said.
When asked how the family had been coping after the demise of their mother, Abdul said, “Though, it has not been easy, it has not really affected us because my mother ensured we were brought up and trained not as MKO’s children, but as ordinary citizens. I remember growing up, she ensured I was taken to school in Peugeot 504, even when there were better luxury cars in the garage. That has helped us greatly and we have not felt it much now that things are not going so well.”
Nothing has changed since 1993 as the coun- try is still a far cry from the democracy my mother fought for. She fought for a democracy that would enthrone responsible government and fight poverty in Nigeria. But there are more poor people in Nigeria today than we had in 1993
On her part, Kudirat’s eldest daughter, Mrs. Hafsat Abiola-Constelo, who is currently a special assistant to Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, advised government to allow more women to hold political offices across the country.
She added that her mother accomplished many things, which, according to her, even some men dare not venture into. “We have to recognise that women have a role to play. In the past, we used to have a very low proportion of women participating in politics, only 13 per cent, but the number has jumped to 36 per cent now. We remember our mother as a woman that did what men were scared of doing, then,” Abiola-Costelo said.
Meanwhile, Kudirat’s first son, Alhaji Jamiu Abiola, has not given up on the pursuit of justice over the killing of the pro-democracy icon. Jamiu has consistently demanded that the perpetrators of his mother’s assassination be brought to book. The multilinguist stressed that those in charge of the administration of justice still had a lot to do, arguing that there was no reason why any of those accused and charged with the killing of his mother should be let off the hook.
“My mother was a diligent mother to us, who are her children, and to other children, who found her in good position of motherhood in their lives. She was also a good wife to our father and loyal to his vision as you could see in what eventually took her life and for the reason she has persistently been celebrated till today,” he said.