Exclusive: Kola Abiola Set To Declare For Presidency

• Resuscitates MKO Abiola, Kingibe’s Political Structures

Son of the late winner of the June 12 1993 Presidential Elections, Chief MKO Abiola, Kola Abiola is preparing to declare for the nation’s presidency any moment from now.

Sources within the seat of power and the All Progressives Congress (APC) exclusively revealed to First Weekly Magazine that consultations were in top gear to ensure the acceptability of the son of the late business mogul, whose “Hope 93” campaign slogan became a phenomenon then prior to the now historical election.

The election later went into history as the freest and fairest election in the country and the circumstances surrounding its annulment and eventual handing over of power to civilians by the military government on May 29, 1999 are for the records.

According to informants, Kola Abiola is leveraging on the political structure of his late father and that of the vice presidential candidate to his father in the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe.

It was gathered that support groups for Kola Abiola have started springing up in some parts of the country and that arrangements have been concluded for his declaration.

Those who should know told us that Kola Abiola was one of the key players in the June 12, 1993 elections, though he was said to have worked in the background, and it was revealed that he was well groomed by his late father for the tasks he is allegedly about to embark upon.

Kola is said to be an alternative for the APC in the event that the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is said to be interested in the coveted office, is not given the ticket based on age and other considerations.

“We all know that the APC will most likely settle for a presidential candidate from the South West for the election. The party has agreed to allow power to shift to the south as the north would be completing eight years in 2023.

“While the likes of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu might likely come out to contest for the coveted office, the cabals within the party are not taking any chances and they believe that Kola Abiola would be a good alternative if Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not scale through due to some considerations.

“Kola Abiola is up to the task. He worked with his father in the build-up to the June 12, 1993 Presidential Elections and he is well groomed to give the office a shot and he has all the necessary experiences that can make him perform,” said a source within the party.

It will be recalled that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari honoured the late Chief MKO Abiola as a hero of democracy in the twilight of the first term of the government.

This was a recognition the family endlessly made efforts to get for the late politician under the federal government since the advent of the current democratic arrangement in the country in 1999 all to no avail.

With the recognition by Buhari, sources said that it was then clear to the family, especially Kola Abiola that there was hope for the family and that it was possible for someone in the family to achieve what MKO Abiola could not achieve and continue his legacy.

On his part, it was revealed that the attitude of Kola Abiola to topical issues affecting the country is being closely watched by those close to the seat of power.

“He has never criticized the government on any issue, rather he has a way of getting to those in power on any issue he feels strongly about.

“Just like his father, he is seen as being detribalized, intelligent, organised and amiable. Look at the way he is managing all that were left of the business empire of his father by the late military junta, Gen. Sanni Abacha.

“What of the estate of his father and the numerous children he left behind as the first son of the family. Despite the initial crisis, he was able to put the family together and they have been able to manage everything without any external influence or court action through Kola’s wisdom and intelligence,” a source said.

As it were, Kola Abiola is said to be making high profile consultations on his ambition and we were told that the outcome of these would determine his decision and actions on the way to go in the next few days.