Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed reason the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, late Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, was denied the presidency.
The Eagle Online recalls that the election was annulled by former military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
Obasanjo, who spoke at the centenary celebration of Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, Ogun State, said the candidate of the Social Democratic Party for the annulled election was denied the presidency over what he called “bad belle”.
He stated during a lecture entitled: “Eyin Ni Iwe Wa: You Are Our Epistle,” delivered at the event: “Today, there are distinguished old boys in all walks of life, that is 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 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.
“Again, reminding us always of our character and conduct.
“We could proudly say BBHS with education plus.
“And for me, it stood me in good stead throughout my life so far.
“Without BBHS, I would not have been what I am,” he said.
“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 noted that the school moulded the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo, and former judge of the International Court of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola, among others, into what they all became in life.
Awolowo was at BBHS in 1928, Ajibola graduated in 1955, Abiola was among the 1956 set, and Obasanjo left the school in 1957.
Obasanjo noted that aside education, the 100-year-old school had at different times inculcated godly virtue on all its products.
He urged the new generation to preserve the moral virtues and discipline impacted on them by the school, and pass it on in perpetuity.