The fact that all is not well within the late Moshood Abiola family came to the open on Friday with the youngest son, Abdul Mumuni, crying out for help over his father’s property.
According to him, his life was in danger as he was being hunted by police and thugs allegedly over issues relating to his father’s properties.
Abdul Mumuni Abiola, in a statement issued, claimed that his elder brothers were sitting on the properties left by his father and would not let any of the younger ones have access to them as they should.
He was particular about the three of his elder brothers – Kola, Deji, and Agboola.
Abdul Mumuni who lamented that most of his father’s properties were in a state of dereliction, and his efforts along with those of others to repair them were being frustrated by his brothers.
He said he was not, along with others, trying to take over the property for any personal purpose but to redeem the image of the Abiola family which had been put to shame by the poor state of the properties.
He said rather than allow him and others to have access to them, he was being hunted by the police, courtesy his elder brothers.
His words: “I want the good people of Nigeria to prevail on Kola and his cohorts to stop using the police to harass me or those who are working with me to restore the lost glory of the Abiola family.
“Every effort I have been making to renovate my father’s properties is not self-driven. It is for all my siblings and for the name of Chief MKO Abiola not to be dragged through the mud.
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“Why should some people be sending thugs and miscreants after me and those working with me to renovate MKO Abiola’s properties?
“Why should that be? Do we have to wash our dirty linen in the public? Why should only a select few of Abiola’s children sit on our father’s properties? I am not even asking them to give me and my other siblings a share of the money-spinning companies of my father that they sit on.
“Our humble request is that they should allow me and my other siblings who are interested in renovating Abiola’s derelict properties. I have been painstakingly patient for 18 years. Enough is enough. I am also informing the public that my life is in danger. I don’t feel safe any longer. If anything should happen to me or my siblings, Kola and his cohorts should be held responsible. I love life but I will not sit down cowardly.”
Abdul Mumuni said his elder brothers should stop playing god over their father’s properties, pointing out that their younger brothers and sisters did not have an axe to grind with them.
He said it was unfortunate that his brothers had been peddling lies against him in the media.
“I, my brothers and sisters totalling 40 children of Abiola are not fighting with them. We don’t have a bone to pick with them. But we need to step out of the past and of our father’s shadow.
“Kola, Deji and Agboola have been peddling lies in the media about my efforts to bring about changes to the dwindling fortunes of the Abiola family.
“I am ashamed just like my other brothers and sister to see that after MKO Abiola’s death, many of his legacies appear to be in shambles. No, it shouldn’t be like that. That is not what MKO Abiola stood for while he was alive,” he said.
Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola was the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election which was annulled by the military government led by General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
The annulment was protested by Nigerians and the country went up in flame.
Hell bent on getting the mandate given him by the people of Nigeria to rule, he was arrested by the General Sani Abacha-led military government and detained.
Abiola died in detention in a suspicious circumstance.
He also lost his wife, Kudirat Abiola, in the crisis that rocked the country.
A prominent businessman, he had his hand in almost all areas of business within and outside the country.
His death has since led to the collapse of his business empire.