Kudirat Abiola

Kudirat Abiola
Born Kudirat Olayinka Adeyemi[1]
1951
Nigeria
Died June, 1996
Lagos
Cause of death assassinated
Nationality Nigeria
Spouse(s) Moshood Abiola
Children 7

Alhaja Kudirat Abiola (née Adeyemi), popularly known as Kudirat Abiola[1] (1951 – 9 June 1996) was assassinated whilst her husband, Moshood Abiola was being detained by the Nigerian Government. Her husband was the winning candidate in Nigerian elections and he was arrested shortly after the elections.

Life

She was born in 1951 in Zaria in Nigeria. Alhaja Kudirat Abiola was the second and senior wife of her husband.[2] Her children with her husband were Yusau Olalekan, Hafsat Olaronke, Abdul Muman, Hadi, Moriam and Khafila. Her husband had over several other children.[3]

She was assassinated whilst her husband was being detained by the Nigerian Government.[4] Her husband was suspected of being the winning candidate in Nigerian elections and he was arrested shortly after the elections. The killing was the subject of an investigation and trial many years later. According to accounts the murder was ordered and then carried out by six men. Abiola died in her car from machine gun fire. Her driver also died. Her personal assistant who was later accused of being involved with her assassins was in the car but was not hurt.[2]

Her husband continued to be detained without charge after her death. He died in suspicious circumstances just before it was said he was to be released on 7 June 1998.[4]

Legacy

At the time of her death an anti-military rule "Radio Democracy" had just been created and it was based in Norway. It was backed by the American, British, Swedish, Danish and Norwegian governments to help end military dictatorship in Nigeria. The Radio station's name was changed to Radio Kudirat.[5]

In October 1998 Major Hamza Al-Mustapha appeared in court with the previous President Abacha's son Mohammed, charged with the murder of Kudirat Abiola.[6] At the trial the self-confessed killer, Sergeant Barnabas Jabila, said he was obeying orders from his superior, al-Mustapha.[7]

On 30 June 2012 Hamza Al-Mustapha and Alhaji Lateef Shofolahan were sentenced to be hanged for the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola. Al Mustapha had been a Presidential Chief security officer whilst Shofolahan had been his victim's personal assistant. The two were later released on appeal by a court in Lagos.[8]

Abiola remains a symbol of Nigeria's struggle for democracy. Nineteen years after her death there were demonstrations at her graveside.

References

  1. 1 2 Adigun A. B. Agbaje; Larry Jay Diamond; Ebere Onwudiwe; Oyeleye Oyediran (2004). Nigeria's Struggle for Democracy and Good Governance: A Festschrift for Oyeleye Oyediran. Ibadan University Press (University of Michigan). p. 305. ISBN 978-9-781-2140-04.
  2. 1 2 The Brutal Assassination of Kudirat Abiola: Here Is The Complete Story, 20 January 2016, Daily Mail (Nigeria), Retrieved 7 February 2016
  3. ↑ All Kudirat Abiola's Seven Children pass DNA Test, Nairaland, Retrieved 8 February 2016
  4. 1 2 Moshood K.O. Abiola: From Wealth to Troubled Politics to Flawed Symbol, Michael T. Kaufman, New York Times, July 8, 1998
  5. ↑ MOMODU, DELE. "MEMORY LANE: The Drama of Abiola's Death (3)". BAYO ADEYINKA BLOG. Bayo Adeyinka. Archived from the original on 8 June 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  6. ↑ Human rights watch world report, 2000. Human Rights Watch. 1999. p. 58. ISBN 1-56432-238-6.
  7. ↑ Olayiwola Abegunrin (2003). Nigerian foreign policy under military rule, 1966-1999. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 156. ISBN 0-275-97881-8.
  8. ↑ Kudirat Abiola’s murder: Appeal Court frees Mustapha, Shofolahan, Bartholomew Madokwe, 13 July 2013, VanguardNGR, Retrieved 8 February 2016
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