‘Govt should recognise MKO Abiola as a former President of Nigeria’ – Dr. Okei-Odumakin

Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, a women’s right activist, and President, Women Arise For Change Initiative, speaks with GERALDINE AKUTU about the significance of June 12 in Nigeria political history. She emphasised the need to immortalize late Moshood Kasimawo Abiola.

How significant is June 12 in Nigeria’s political history?
The significance of June 12 to our democratic history, particularly the present civil rule being experienced in the country cannot be over-emphasized. That was the day Nigeria had her freest and fairest election in history and the struggle for the actualisation of that mandate was what was fought till the military handed over power back to the civilians in 1999.

What in your opinion has changed from that period till now?
Well, the only visible change is the fact that governance now resides with the civilian and not the military that has held the country hostage until 1999. There has been some level of improvement in the freedom enjoyed by Nigerians but ultimately the people have not experienced the true dividends of democracy as expected since democracy returned.

Do you and other activists or civil society have any agenda to make June 12 a remarkable day in Nigeria?
We have always done commemoration activities since the annulment of the election and this year will not be different, we shall in our usual way commemorate the June 12.

Some people said National Stadium should be named after M.K.O Abiola instead of the University of Lagos, what is your take on this?
There is no national infrastructure that can be too big to be named after Chief MKO Abiola who was the winner of that election that was eventually annulled by the Babangida junta. But as far as we are concerned, the first step is for the Nigerian government to officially recognise Chief Abiola as a former president of the country. This is the greatest debt Nigeria owes his memory.