Politics
Why Nigerians may never experience good governance – late MKO Abiola’s wife gives reason
One of the most visible wives left behind by late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential election in Nigeria, Alhaja Sitirat Titi Abiola, on Tuesday submitted that If Nigerians continue with the habit of taking money and other incentives before voting for candidates during elections, the country may never experience good governance.
Alhaja Titi, who made this submission while featuring on this week’s edition of Parrot Xtra Hour on Radio broadcast live on Space FM 90.1 in Ibadan also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for honouring her late husband by recognizing June 12 as a national holiday.
According to the Abeokuta-based business woman, “June 12 was a day Nigerians united to vote for Chief MKO Abiola. It was a day we all forgot our religion and ethnic backgrounds. Abiola was a great Nigerian, he was an unrepentant African fighter. He never saw himself strictly as a Yorubaman.”
While speaking about her experience after the demise of her husband, she said “it has been God. It was after his death that I knew the meaning of life. His friends simply disappeared except for a few ones. I quickly adapted to relating only with God.”
She also took time to speak about her relationship with the head of the family left behind by late Chief MKO Abiola, Alhaji Kola Abiola.
“Let us get something clear, Brother Kola is not the father of my children. He has his own family too. He is only the head of the MKO Abiola Family. It will be wrong to ask him to shoulder all the responsibilities needed to be carried out on my children. Immediately my husband died, I knew the duties I must perform. I thank God that the MKO Abiola Estate played its own role. I thank God that my children are no longer babies.
“Brother Kola has been doing his best. We are on good terms. My children relate very well with him”, she said.
While advising Nigerians on how to institute good governance, Titi Abiola emphasized that, “Nigerians must learn from what happened on June 12, 1993. Nobody paid anybody to vote for MKO. People from Anambra, Sokoto, Ondo, Oyo, Borno and other states voted freely for the then Social Democratic Party’s candidate (SDP). It was a day democracy was properly defined in Nigeria.
“If Nigerians continue to ask for incentives and money before they vote for candidates in an election, things will never work. Those so elected will never feel responsible to them. They will be sworn in and abandon their constituencies until another four years come around”, she concluded.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has called on Governor Seyi Makinde to resign immediately, alleging that his recent remarks on state security exposed incompetence and an inability to lead.
Governor Makinde, speaking during his acceptance speech as the Presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Ibadan on Saturday, lamented that he could do little to rescue abducted school children and residents in Oriire Local Government Area due to all security structures being under federal control.
Reacting, APC State Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, described the governor’s comments as “the height of cluelessness, insincerity, and criminal ineptitude,” warning that such disclosures reflect a dangerous trend among parochial leaders.
Sadare said, “Engr. Seyi Makinde could not find any fault in the nation’s Constitution, yet he swore twice to protect lives and properties of Oyo people. He has long enjoyed the powers of his office, controlling resources and people without challenge, but now faces a serious test, exposing incompetence, cluelessness, and ego.”
He added, “Instead of addressing security challenges, Makinde is exploiting the situation to push a mirage he calls a presidential ambition in 2027. His insensitive comments once again reveal hypocrisy. It is time he quit the office of the governor, having admitted he lacks the capacity to secure the state.”
The APC also recalled that previous governors, including Alhaji Lam Adesina, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, and the late Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, operated under the same constitutional provisions without similar security failures. Sadare particularly praised Ajimobi for establishing a Security Trust Fund to ensure funding and stakeholder involvement in security, in contrast to the current administration.
“Makinde’s presidential ambition is dead on arrival. Our concern is the continued loss, deprivation, and mismanagement the people of Oyo may suffer in the remaining year of his tenure. The state deserves a team player, a sincere and humble governor — qualities Makinde has failed to demonstrate in seven years. He should apologise and step down,” Sadare concluded.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Saturday emerged as the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) for the 2027 general election following the conclusion of the party’s presidential nomination process.
Makinde emerged through consensus and affirmation by party delegates during the exercise, in what party leaders described as a demonstration of unity and confidence in his leadership ahead of the next general elections.
The governor was presented with his Certificate of Return by the National Chairman of the APM, Alhaji Yusuf Dantali, during a ceremony held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, amid cheers from party faithful, delegates and supporters drawn from different parts of the country.
Speaking during the presentation, Dantali said Makinde possesses the leadership qualities, administrative experience and vision required to steer the country towards sustainable growth and national development.
He urged party members across the federation to close ranks and intensify grassroots mobilisation to ensure victory for the party in the 2027 presidential election.
The APM national chairman maintained that the party remained committed to presenting Nigerians with what he described as a credible alternative capable of addressing the country’s economic, security and governance challenges.
According to him, the emergence of Makinde as the party’s flag bearer marked the beginning of a new political movement aimed at restoring hope and strengthening democratic governance in the country.
In his acceptance speech, Governor Makinde expressed appreciation to the leadership of the party and delegates for the confidence reposed in him, pledging to work with stakeholders across political, ethnic and religious divides to advance the party’s vision for national transformation.
The governor assured party supporters of his commitment to inclusive leadership, promising to prioritise policies that would improve economic prosperity, strengthen institutions and enhance the welfare of Nigerians if elected.
Five key members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State have been appointed to the party’s campaign committee for the 2026 governorship re-election of Governor Abiodun Oyebanji in Ekiti State.
The Oyo APC leaders on the list include the party’s governorship candidate, Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, former Senate leader Teslim Folarin, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, Zacch Adedeji, and Remi Oseni.
The list, signed by the party’s National Secretary, Sen. Ajibola Basiru, reflects the APC’s strategy of deploying experienced political figures with strong grassroots networks to ensure a successful re-election campaign in Ekiti.
“These appointments recognise their political experience and commitment to advancing the party’s agenda,” the source within the party said.
The APC committee is expected to coordinate campaign activities, voter engagement, and messaging, positioning the party for a strong showing in the 2026 governorship election.
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