TO CHIEF MOSHOOD KASHIMAWO ABIOLA - A EULOGY
godson offoaro
Some time in 1981, the Sunday Concord owned by Chief Abiola and
edited by Dele Giwa ran a front page article titled "Maroko Land Deal."
The story salaciously presented for the first time, to the reading
public, how Chief Obafemi Awolowo in spite of his claim to
egalitarian existence had high-handedly dispossed the hoi po lois of
Maroko by almost paying little to nothing in the acquisition of
several acres of land.
The story, no doubt was written to embarrass the Chief from Ikenne.
It did.
As a student unionist and a sympathizer of the NPP and a hater of the
NPN, I read the story from a skewed perspective - Chief Abiola was
using his paper to prop his political ambition.
A year and half later, Chief Abiola began his Community Concord - a
project which was aimed at establishing a community based newspaper in
every state of the federation.
When it was Imo state's turn to own a community Concord, I wrote a
piece in the Nigerian Statesman denouncing Abiola's ventures. He
belonged to the NPN and I hated him for that. (Okwa aham bu Ike +
Nwachukwu + NPP Offoaro).
Many years later, I began to know Abiola's other side. It was through
my friend, his speech writer, Chike Akabogu - a prolific writer, a
genius if immense proportion from Nnewi, cousin to Chief Arthur
Nzeribe, a professional colleague, First Class Political Science, UI;
youngest member of the Editorial Board of Concord Newspapers - dead
before 32. He had sickle cell annamia
How did this happen. First, he and I and Chief Abiola met in Nairobi
Kenya. We witnessed from close distance Abiola's romantic life. We
saw him actually pursue butterfly with one of his wives in a trivial
romance that was and is still alien to our people.
During our flight back to Nigeria, we engaged him in a heart to heart
discussion. "Sir, I began, people like me believe your generosity is
fake and that it is because of your new found love for politics that
has engendered your giving accumen. "No no no" Chief Abiola stammered
back. " I give because I have. Look my friend, its better to give
than to receive and the hand of the gives is always on top of the
receiver.
I give because I have seen poverty. I give because I empathize and I
give because, what I give out is nothing compared to what comes in.
He asked Chike to order a bottle of beer. When Chike did he asked us
to pour the beer into the cup till it is full. We did. "You see", the
Chief began in a solemn voice, "what I give to charity, compared to my
wealth, is like the foam of that beer. The real wealth is untouched.
I was touched.
He told us how because of his poverty-ridden background, he paid his
way through elementary school by playing agidigbo ( a brand of Yoruba
music) in the evenings and selling fire wood in the day time.
I was touched again. (Just like me, I mused)
I 1987, I watched Abiola demonstrate kindness. He did not see me. It
was in Abeokuta. At the compound of Chief Segun Osoba. Chief Osoba,
then Managing Director of the Daily Times was being honored by the
Alake of Egba land. I've forgotten which one.
When Abiola arrived at the scene, a throve of praise singers,
reporters, dignitaries,important personalitires thronged to say hi.
He is a billionaire. He is phillantropist per excellence. He is from
Abeokuta and he had come to respect the newly minted Chief in Segun
Osoba.
As the crowd surged, a cripple noticed Abiola and made his way towards
him. In that multitude of legs, can any one imagine what the chances
of a cripple are. But undaunted the cripple trudged along, his
balding hips and bleary tired eyes focussed on his prize. As the
Cripple made his way towards the Chief, he noticed him and tore
through the tick crowd to recognize the cripple.
He dipped his right hand in the depth of his agbada and brought out a
wad of newly minted Naira notes. Looking the other way, he gave the
whole wad to the cripple. The cripple sang his praises and the
talking drums beat harder than before.
I was touched again.
When we invited him to Champion Arena to pepper him with questions
which ranged from his private life to his bussiness and politics,, he
was very magnanimous in his responses and even went further to
encourage us to ask him stronger questions.
I was touched.
After the interview which I single handedly almost massacred his
soul, he asked me to pose with him. I obliged. I have the photograph
right here in my study.
Two weeks later, I wrote an apology to MKO for maligning him without
adequate justification. He loved it although my board of directors
(mostly Yoruba people) had voted to kill the article's appearance in
the second edition)
Chief Moshood, I did not support June 12, just because, I thought it
was High time the Yorubas were paid back in their own coins. You
happened to be the touch bearer. Chike before he died did not support
you. He supported his cousin Arthur Nzeribe. I learnt you were
justifiably angry and stopped providing him with medical assistance
till he died.
Now you're no more. May be you paid the ultimate price for your
political ambition; may be you followed the line of other Aare Ona
kakanfos; may be may be that's you and your destiny or may be still
those who knew you better will one day meet you again.
However, if I were to write an epitaph, I will I will generously say,
"Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, the real Man of the People, You Lived."
Adieu.
Godson
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