In addition to declaring June 12 a public holiday, the Lagos State Government is involved in the organisation of the inaugural edition of the June 12 memorial football match in honour of late mogul and philanthropist, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.
The state Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, is expected to lead the All Stars against ex-Abiola Babes in a memorial match billed for the mainbowl of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
The event is sponsored by the Lagos State Government is collaboration with a former international, Taju Disu.
Fashola will captain the Lagos All Stars that will see the likes of Fatai Amoo, Henry Nwosu and host of others on parade.
Disu, the organiser of the novelty match, will captain ex-Abiola Babes with the likes of Yisa Sofoluwe, Friday Christopher, Toyin Ayinla, Raymond King, Friday Ekpo, Dahiru Sadi, Bright Omokaro, Dominic Iorfa, Bremer Alada, Ademola Adeshina, Lukman Oshun, Yemi Adebanjo, Rufai Adegbenro, Nicholas Ukadike, Dehinde Akinlotan, Ugene Uwabuwa and Tajudeen Olaiya with coaches Kadiri Ikhana, Kola Taiwo and Goodluck Obilor in charge.
Speaking with sports journalists in Lagos, Disu said that the novelty match is to remembers the good works of Abiola, better known in the sports world as the Pillar of Sports in Africa.
“We have been organising something similar to this in United States but this one is the inaugural edition in Nigeria. Chief MKO Abiola contributed immensely to sports in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. He deserves the honour and we hope to make this an annual event,” Disu said.
In Ibadan, Oyo State, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Barrister Lateef Fagbemi, is expected to deliver the June 12 lecture organised by the Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
The event holds at the Banquet hall, Jogor centre, Obafemi Awolowo Stadium (formerly Liberty Stadium) Road, beginning from 11am.
A statement by the Chairman of the NUJ, Comrade ’Gbenga Opadotun, said the guest lecturer will speak on “Transparency, Good Governance and Immunity Clause: Any relationship?”
According to Opadotun, the union believes that but for the supreme price paid by Abiola, Nigeria’s democracy would have been a mirage, especially in view of the locust years of the military in power.