Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, Human Rights lawyer, Femi Falana and several others on Sunday, gathered to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the death of Mr Moshood Abiola.
They gathered at his residence in Ikeja for a wreath-laying ceremony even as they expressed concerns about the state of the nation, 21 years after.
Mr Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, died on July 7, 1998, as Nigeria had barely started its journey to democracy.
Soyinka, as well as some others present at the wreath-laying ceremony, lamented that Nigeria still struggles with some of the things Abiola stood and fought for, while he was alive.
Specifically, he noted that the rate of poverty was alarming.
“I am afraid. Just looking at the level of poverty scares me. I am afraid for this nation. For the first time, in a very deep, visceral way, I really am afraid for this country.”
Mr Falana also said, “Abiola stood for justice for all. Abiola’s mandate was a reflection of the popular will of the people. That mandate, that election defied ethnicity, religion or any other primordial consideration. Therefore, if we want to recognise June 12, if we want to celebrate Abiola, we must celebrate the unity of our people and not the disunity of our country”.
Soyinka, Falana, Others Visit Abiola’s Grave
