President Bola Tinubu praised the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, on Monday.
He characterizes the late businessman, who died in strange circumstances after his victory was nullified by the late Gen. Sani Abacha, as a martyr who advocated for “principles that are far more valuable than life itself.”
Tinubu made the remarks during his first Democracy Day message to Nigerians as President, which aired on NTA at 7:00 a.m. on Monday.
He said “We can easily recall the sacrifice and martyrdom of Chief MKO Abiola, the custodian of the sacred mandate that was so cruelly annulled.
“He sacrificed his life in unyielding, patriotic defence of the ideals of democracy as symbolised in his choice, by his fellow countrymen and women, as their duly-elected President.
“There was an easier choice for him. It was to forgo the justice of his cause and opt for the path of ease and capitulation in the face of the tyranny of power. To his eternal credit and immortal glory, Abiola said no.
“He demonstrated the time-tested eternal truth that there are certain ideals and principles that are far more valuable than life itself.”
The President also acknowledged the sacrifices of other Nigerians who, he said, participated in the struggle to enthrone democracy and paid the ultimate price in the process.
“Every day, on this day, down the ages we will recall several other heroes of democracy such as Kudirat Abiola, wife of Chief Abiola, who was brutally murdered while in the trenches fighting on the side of the people.
“We remember Pa Alfred Rewane, one of the heroes of our independence struggle and Major General Shehu Yar’Adua (retd) who were silenced by the military junta while in pursuit of democracy.
“They gave their yesterday for the liberty that is ours today,” he said.
