20 interesting facts you probably didn’t know about MKO Abiola

• MKO Abiola was awarded the highest national honour, posthumous CGFR to honour him as a hero of democracy
• He is remembered as the man who was cheated out of presidency
• Here are some interesting facts you should know about this legend 

Abiola was awarded the highest national honour, the posthumous award of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), by President Muhammadu Buhari as the presumed winner of the June 12 presidential election.

Late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola will forever be remembered in history as the man who fought for democracy in Nigeria and died for this cause, which is why the country now celebrates its democracy on June 12 every year. 

20 interesting facts about MKO Abiola

The following are some interesting facts about the legendary MKO Abiola:

1. MKO Abiola was born on August 24, 1937, and was his father’s 23rd child 
2. He was also the first of his father’s children to survive infancy, hence the name ‘Kashimawo’ (Let us wait and see) 
3. Abiola was born and raised in poverty and was a hard worker and a bright student
4. At the young age of nine, he started his first business selling firewood
5. He sold firewood to support his father and siblings
6. MKO attended Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, Ogun State
7. He was the editor of the school magazine The Trumpeter, while Olusegun Obasanjo was the deputy editor
8. He started his professional life in 1956 as a bank clerk with Barclays Bank in Ibadan, South-West Nigeria.
9. He married many wives, including Simibiat Atinuke Shoaga in 1960, Kudirat Olayinka Adeyemi in 1973, and Adebisi Olawunmi Oshin in 1974, among others, and fathered many children
10. He was known for his charisma and for being a man of the people.
11. The Congressional Black Caucus of the United States of America till date, salute him as a hero in the global pursuit to preserve the history and the legacy of the African diaspora
12. His involvement in politics started early on in life when he joined the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) at age 19
13. He received numerous honorary doctorates from universities all over the world. He was also voted International Businessman of the Year in 1988
14. He made generous donations for building schools, mosques, churches, libraries, and various development projects across Nigeria and became a popular public figure
15. He also supported liberation movements in southern Africa and campaigns for reparations for slavery
16. He ran for the presidency in 1993 and was widely regarded as the true winner of the inconclusive election
17. Observers the election to have been the freest and fairest in Nigerian history. Abiola rallied domestic and international support in claiming the presidency that he appeared to have won
18. In 1994, he declared himself the lawful president of Nigeria in the Epetedo area of Lagos Island
19. This led to his 1994 arrest on a charge of treason by the military regime then led by Gen. Sani Abacha, who sent 200 police vehicles to bring him into custody
20. He died in 1998 after being denied victory when the entire election results were controversially annulled by the preceding military President Ibrahim Babangida