LAGOS – Some activists and non-governmental organisations on Thursday in Lagos called on the Federal Government to immortalise the Late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.
They spoke at her graveside in Ikeja, at programme organised by Campaign for Democracy (CD), Women Arise and Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) to mark the 19th anniversary of her death.
Kudirat, the wife of the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, late Chief MKO Abiola, was shot dead by gunmen on June 4, 1996, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Her death occurred while her husband was still in detention.
The President of CD, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, said 19 years after Kudirat’s death, the perpetrators of the heinous act had not been brought to book.
“It is an indictment of the criminal Justice administration system in Nigeria that 19 years after the dastardly act, a closure has yet to be brought to the gruesome murder.
“The anniversary of her assassination is a moment to recall her heroic deed and to demand justice for her by putting the justice system in Nigeria to task on the culprits of the barbaric act,” Okei-Odumakin said.
She called on the Federal Government to immortalise Kudirat, saying at the moment, only the Lagos State Government had named a road after her.
In the same vein, Mrs Ganiyat Fawehinmi, widow of late human rights activist and lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, called on the Federal Government to strengthen the judicial system and bring Kudirat’s killers to book.
“Until those who killed Kudirat Abiola are brought to book, her spirit will continue to hunt them.
“Kudirat stood for democracy and lost her life; that fight that she fought should not be in vain.
“I also want government to do something to overhaul the judicial system and at the same time honour her by immortalising her,” she said.
The National Leader of the Oodua People’s Congress, Chief Gani Adams, urged the Federal Government to name an important place after the late politician’s wife.
“Government at all levels must not allow what happened in June 4 and 12 to be forgotten in a hurry.
“Nigeria must recognise her and the husband the same way Lagos State Government has done by naming very important monument after them.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560”]
“Ninety-nine per cent of people benefitting from government today did not pay the price they paid.
“So the only way to recognise this family is to recognise them,” he said.
Also, retired Rear Adm. Ndubuisi Kanu, a National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) chieftain, said Kudirat paid the supreme price as such, should be honoured.
He commended the organisers of the event for remembering Kudirat every year.
One of her sons, Alhaji Jamiu Abiola, urged Nigerians to respect his mother even after her death.
“America has named streets after two Africans; they are Nelson Mandela and my mother.
“That shows that they value these two, respect and recognise them for their struggles.
“Nigeria must respect their heroes and heroines even after death,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that various NGOs, human rights activists and students attended the event. (NAN)
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