M. K. O. Abiola also known as Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola GCFR, was a politician, publisher, and businessman from Nigeria.
He was the Aare Ona Kankafo XIV of Yorubaland and an aristocrat of the Egba clan.
He ran for the presidency in 1993, for which the election results were annulled by the preceding military president Ibrahim Babangida because of allegations that they were corrupt and unfair.
Abiola was awarded the GCFR posthumously on 6 June 2018 by President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigeria’s democracy day was changed to June 12.
He was also a personal friend of Ibrahim Babangida and he is believed to have supported Babangida’s coming to power.
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Abiola’s support in the June 1993 presidential election cut across all geo-political zones and religious divisions, among a few politicians to accomplish such a spread during his time.
By the time of his death, he had become an unexpected symbol of democracy.
How Many Wives Did M. K. O. Abiola Marry?
Moshood Abiola married many wives; notable among them are Simibiat Atinuke Shoaga in 1960, Simbiat Abiola Kudirat Olayinka Adeyemi in 1973, Adebisi Olawunmi Oshin in 1974, Doyinsola (Doyin) Abiola Aboaba in 1981, Modupe Onitiri-Abiola and Remi Abiola. He fathered many children.
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June 12 Was Declared Democracy Day
On 6 June 2018, Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria declared 12 June as the new date for the celebration of Democracy Day. Nigeria’s Democracy Day was formally celebrated every 29 May, the day in 1999 that former military Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, handed over power to an elected president, Olusegun Obasanjo of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the date when, for the second time in the history of Nigeria, an elected civilian administration took over from a military government.
On 6 June 2018, Muhammadu Buhari in a public statement changed the Democracy Day to June 12 in honor of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and it’s winner, Moshood Abiola, who died in prison.
