The late business mogul and politician, Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola was a man of the people, whose knowledge, wealth and resources helped transform the lives of many across the country. Members of the Abiola extended family told Gbenga Akinfenwa how much they miss him during a visit to the family house in Agura, Oja-Agbo, Abeokuta, Ogun State.Alhaji Mubashiru Abiola (Abiola's younger brother and Head of the Abiola Family). He is not only missed by his family, the country also missed him because he contributed immensely towards Nigeria's democracy. The government at both state and federal level made a lot of promises but the promises are yet to be fulfilled.We placed an advertorial to thank the Federal Government on the re-naming of University of Lagos after him and we believe it will go a long way to put his name in the history of the country; but we are saying that naming of a University is not enough, they should fulfill all the promises made to the family.Alhaja Ayisat Abiola (MKO's Step Mother, 85 years)Although, God is the provider, but Abiola really tried when he was aliveWe really missed his presence because all the necessary things he ought to be providing for us as the breadwinner there is no one who could fill the vacuum. The government made a lot of promises, but we didn't see anything and we had to forget about such promises. None of his children lives here but they still come often to see us here. Other members of the family also come, but you know everybody has responsibility and we shouldn't expect much from them.The renaming of the University of Lagos after him is appreciated by the family. Mrs Haliat Popoade (Family member)We really missed Chief MKO Abiola because his death is a great calamity to us. All his philanthropic gestures to the family went away with him and we had to struggle to do those things ourselves, like the monthly electricity bills we pay. From time to time now the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) officials disconnect our line regularly because of lateness in settling them.The water in the compound doesn't run regularly, for the past two months now we've had to fetch water from other houses which never happened to us when he was alive. Despite that we still receive monthly water bills from Water Corporation without getting the water.We thanked God that this present government remembers his heroic deeds to name such an institution after him, we really appreciate such gesture and believe through this his name would not be forgotten in the history of the country. I also want to appeal to the students of the school to accept the renaming of the school.Mr. Muritala (family member)ONE particular area the family misses Abiola is in the area of financial assistance to the family. Since he died the government has done the little within their power, but it is very small compared to what MKO was doing when he was alive.The last administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel changed all the doors and the roofing sheets of the family house. The present administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun painted buildings in the compound. Aside the family, all the mosques are missing him because of his support and assistance from time to time, especially in Oja-Agbo here and the Central Mosque.Payment of electricity bills in all the mosques used to be MKO's his duty, renovation and philanthropic gestures too. When we were small, he went round all mosques in the country to select people whom he sponsored for Walimot annually; nobody has done that since he died, this made his death a big loss to the Muslim community.I don't think renaming University of Lagos after him is a bad idea; any patriotic Yoruba should be in support of that move because of Abiola's sacrifice for the country. If we have Moshood Abiola Polytechnic and Moshood Abiola University, I don't think that is too much for MKO Abiola. The renaming would surely immortalise his name for his contribution to the country, the poor and the Muslim community.Mr. Jide Bankole (family member)WE missed him in many areas because when Daddy was alive we felt hiscontributions to the family. Though I was young then but I heard about his good deeds. He was responsible for the day to day running of the family house, but since he died the house can be in total black out for two months. Since he died, most of the family members who had passed out of school could not get any job, we are struggling to make ends meet. We are hungry, no food for us. Those people that often come here when he was alive have deserted the family house, which was then Mecca of a sort.The renaming of University of Lagos is well appreciated to put his name in the history of the country, we are happy about and if anybody goes against it, that means they hate him and his family.
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