Colonel Tony Nyiam (rtd) who is a chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) has said that the late Moshood Abiola’s son, Kola Abiola, got it wrong in his statement regarding his father’s relationship with Chief Bola Tinubu.
Kola had reportedly said that Tinubu made some demands from former military head of state, General Sani Abacha, to be made administrator, deputy administrator and commissioner in Lagos state. The Nation reports that Nyiam said Kola should be grateful to Tinubu for his commitment to the political struggle. He said that even though he has parted ways with Tinubu, he would still not fail to tell the truth about the role played by the national leader of the All Progressives Congress.
He said: “Let me begin by saying this: guided by good conscience,and intuition-led reasoning which proceeds therefrom, I will begin with this warning: no matter the temptation we are being tempted with, let no one be as ungrateful to another who sacrificed almost his existential life to work for the persons directly or his immediate family as Chief Kola Abiola has recently done to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“In spite of my personal disappointment with Asiwaju, I cannot be a witness to Kola Abiola’s ungratefulness to the lowest depth. We need to set the record straight.
It is noteworthy to see that I have for over four years distanced myself from my hitherto close friend, Asiwaju. Those who are close to Asiwaju and my humble self know that.
“Chief Kola Abiola’s questioning of the integrity of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s early support forhis father, Chief MKO Abiola, on doubtful demand from Gen. Sani Abacha is completely unnecessary and so uncalled for. To what end is Kola’s negative observation directed? Who is Kola Abiola trying this lie to give comfort to?”
“It was actually at Kola Abiola’s father, Chief MKO Abiola’s instance that I was first introduced to Tinubu. Chief MKO was full of praises for Senator Bola Tinubu and said that I and Tinubu will work well together.
“All these happened in Chief MKO Abiola’s London home. It was in the presence of the former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) chairman, the late Alao Aka-Bashorun. This was when MKO flew to London to re-energise his international connection.
“Like MKO had commended Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s role in support of June 12 cause, apart from Prof. Wole Soyinka, who contributed through his leadership of NALICON and gave us a link to the leaders of Norway, Canada, followed by Gen. Alani Akinrinade and, of course,the leader of all of us, Chief Anthony Enahoro, no one else had more contributions than Asiwaju.”
The NADECO chieftain recalled that Tinubu sold some of his properties to fund the pro-democracy movement. He said he witnessed Tinubu selling his London property for the struggle.
“In fact, the last one he sold was the one which his uncle, Wale Tinubu’s father and former Police Commissioner, gave him to manage while he was on exile,” he said.
According to him, Tinubu funded his trips to meet with Y. Museveni in Uganda; to take advantage of MKO’s goodwill.
“Tinubu was reliable during the pro-democracy action against Gen. Sani Abacha’s dictatorial rule. That reliability is unchallengeable. If you doubt me, you can ask the present governor of Ekiti. Most of the funding for Radio Kudirat came from Tinubu through Ola Soyinka,son of Prof. Wole Soyinka And I can say that Tinubu’s other son can also bear witness to that.
“The internationally eminent professor, Segun Gbadegesin, can testify to Tinubu’s support for those operations in the United States of America” he added.
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