Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a former president, has explained why late Chief Moshood Abiola (MKO Abiola) was unable to lead Nigeria.
Obasanjo predicted Abiola’s death 25 years in advance. In the presidential election held on June 12, 1993, MKO Abiola was declared the likely winner.
The publisher, businessman, and politician was turned down for the position, and on July 7, 1998, he was killed in Abuja.
Obasanjo stated at an address on Wednesday at a lecture in Ogun State called “Eyin Ni Iwe Wa: You Are Our Epistle” that MKO Abiola could not have become Nigeria’s president thirty years ago because of the deeds of some “bad belle” – (bad people).
The statement was made by the former military leader at the Baptist Boys High School’s centennial celebration in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.
He said that MKO Abiola, a graduate of BBHS, was denied his mandate.
Obasanjo asserted that he would not have become the person he is today without the moral values and solid education he received at BBHS.
He emphasized that the school shaped the late philosopher Obafemi Awolowo, the former judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Prince Bola Ajibola, among others, into what they all were in life.
According to Bifotad.com, Awolowo attended BBHS in 1928, Ajibola graduated in 1955, Abiola was a member of the 1956 class, and Obasanjo left the institution in 1957.
Obasanjo pointed out that the century-old school had, in addition to imparting knowledge, at various points inculcated godly virtue in all of its graduates.
“Without BBHS, I would not have been what I am,” Obasanjo declared.
The retired general claimed that in addition to him, the BBHS would have had MKO Abiola as a past president, but “bad belle” stopped him from assuming the office.
Obasanjo said, “Today, there are distinguished old boys in all walks of life, i.e., private sector, academia, military and paramilitary, civil society, traditional rulership, etc. Such is the present President of Old Boys Association of BBHS, Prof. Kayode Oyesiku.
“I believe that I must not be too forgetful to leave out yours truly, the son of Obasanjo, a modest war-victorious General and former Military Head of State and former President of Nigeria. Chief M.K.O. Abiola, the first communication industry millionaire in Nigeria and the acclaimed winner of the 1993 Presidential election who was in a class by himself.
“If not for Nigerian bad belle, M.K.O. Abiola would have been President and with me as President, we would have needed one more old student of BBHS to be President for us to permanently locate it in BBHS after three times. And that is a challenge for up-and-coming generations of old boys.”
The elderly man implored the younger generation to pass on and uphold the moral principles and discipline instilled in them by the school.
Obasanjo emphasized that the godly virtue instilled in all BBHS graduates is what unites them.
“That was education plus. We carry it to anywhere we go as epistle written by BBHS to our families, our communities, our States, our country, and our continent of Africa and indeed our world.
“We must impact with humility, honesty, integrity, wisdom, courage, competence and fear of God – these must continue to be our characteristics and our attributes to make a change for good wherever we are. We must be different,” Obasanjo said.