2023: Count Me Out Of Partisan Politics, Says Abiola’s Son

By Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

Kola, first son of Chief Moshood Abiola, winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, has asked to be excused from partisan politics for now, especially in the 2023 election.

Abiola, who spoke with reporters in Abuja at the weekend on the sideline of the unveiling of his new social media platform, Tribe Naija, said he would ever remain grateful for the posthumous recognition given his late father by the Federal Government.

Of late, there have been widespread rumours in the social media linking him to the 2023 presidential contest on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Debunking the rumours, the younger Abiola declared that he is not a card-carrying member of any of the political parties and that he has never been involved in any political activities since his father’s election in 1993.

He said: “I see posters around with my picture and the APC. I am not even a card-carrying member of any political party. I have never been involved politically with any party, since my father’s election.

“I wanted to make sure that first and foremost he (late Abiola) was recognised for what he achieved. It took me 22 years to get that with the announcement by President Muhammadu Buhari and I am always going to be thankful for that.

“And now that all that he achieved have been recognised, I want to now finish the job that he started by making sure that nobody is ever robbed and that we keep this Nigeria as one.

“You see, the problem we have in Nigeria is that everything has to be a means to an end. But there cannot be a means to an end if we don’t have a country first and foremost. So, I want us to be united and that is my purpose”.

Abiola stated that running for a political office and winning election are two different things.

“Gen. Shehu Yar ‘Adua started the Peoples Front (PF), did he end up being the President of this country? Shehu Yar ‘Adua started the PF, my father came in on the same platform. Did he end up ruling this country? So, it’s not about whether you are running for something or you want an office, no.”

The late politician’s son said he has dedicated himself to the struggle of awakening the consciousness and raising leaders among the younger generation of Nigerians through his new application, Tribe Naija.

Continuing, he said: “I come from a family that is a pioneer in what we do. We raise the unknown, we make them known. In addition to what we are going to do with this platform, we will raise leaders. And that is what we are all about.

“The names you hear in your profession (journalism) today, there is hardly anybody who hasn’t gone through Concord. When they were at Concord, did anybody know them? No. And that is what we are all about. It’s not about me. It is about making sure we make a difference in this country and we keep this country united

“My father didn’t run for President for a divided Nigeria. Yar’Adua didn’t start this thing for a divided Nigeria. I don’t want to see a divided Nigeria because I don’t know any other place than Nigeria.

“To get it right, the media and other stakeholders have to get involved. You don’t appreciate the power you have. If you come together and put that power to use, we will see.

“The number is there and all we are looking for is leadership and good governance. We have to have leadership from the ward to the top. It’s about that.

“If we change it progressively and we give you the things to make it happen progressively, then you will see the difference. It’s not about the head, if the head is so good and we don’t have anybody down the line, what are you going to govern?

“If am President today and I have the best of ideas and I don’t have people in the right places, of what use is that? That is what I keep saying. It is about making sure that we can develop something that makes a team with a lasting impact in this country. We need to turn the narrative and I am hoping that with Tribe Niger we will do that”.

Abiola scored the present democratic dispensation low, saying that it fell far below the expectation of what his late father and others died for.

“I am not impressed with the democracy that we are in today, because it is not what my father and others died for. It’s not what they put their lives on the line for.

“And I want to make sure we get what they will be proud of in their graves. The challenge is now for me to make sure that happens and that is what I mean by completing that bridge,” Abiola said.

Promising to complete the abandoned Unity Bridge located within the premises of the Yar ‘Adua Centre, Abiola described the bridge as democracy legacy and symbol of unity that must be completed.

He said: “The uncompleted bridge out there is an uncompleted democracy legacy and I want to finish that legacy to make sure that this country stays united.

“My father had chieftaincy titles from all over Nigeria. He didn’t even have a National Honour conferred on him until two years ago. So it’s about always giving and always believing in Nigeria.

“Everything we do, we put Nigeria first, anything we create is about Nigeria whether domestically or otherwise. And that has to continue”.

– The nation