Hafsat Abiola-Costello, human rights, civil rights activist and founder of the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) spoke to TUNDE AKINOLA on immortalising her father Chief MKO Abiola. Excerpts:IS the renaming of the University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University a due recognition for your late father'Everyone is happy that the Federal Government finally recognised our father. The recognition is long overdue given his pivotal role in enthroning the democracy we now have. President Goodluck Jonathan's statement in recognition of my father's contribution truly captured the essence of his sacrifice and will resonate through time. However, I think that, while laudable, the re-naming of a federal institution has to follow due process.It is not for me to say how my father should be honoured. That he is honoured is important to me but I would prefer for the details to emerge through a process that is as inclusive as possible. What my father did was done so that Nigeria would be a better place. He was the symbol of democracy because people crossed ethnic, religious and class considerations to give him their mandate. It is important that honouring him is done in a manner that keeps faith with his essence as a unifier and as a democrat.I would like to see that what he died fighting for is achieved - that we have a healthy democracy and that Nigerians say farewell to poverty.Do you see any political undertone'I have no way to know that and cannot, therefore, speak to that sentiment. However, I think that because the Federal Government is seeking to honour a person who was not a member of any of the present parties, a man who was the symbol of a movement that brought rights activists together with unionists, politicians and concerned citizens, it is important to lift this initiative above partisan lines.Do you think that declaring June 12 as national public holiday would further honour him'The date June 12 is a remarkable event for several reasons. First, the election itself is noted as the freest and fairest ever conducted in Nigeria. When we consider the fact that the history of electoral manipulation dates back to the First Republic and affects us still, holding up this one moment in time when we demonstrated the capacity to put in place a process wherein the peoples' votes counted, can only serve to inspire us now.Secondly, the results showed a breakthrough in our country's political affairs as we witnessed a shift from people voting based on primordial sentiments to people voting based on broader concerns.And thirdly, it was the beginning of the June 12 movement that pit an armed dictatorship and its cronies against the citizens of Nigeria. And that the struggle opened the way for the current democratic dispensation is not in doubt. And also, that it has been unacknowledged for so long renders true for Nigeria the distinction Madiba Nelson Mandela made about South Africa after apartheid ended. According to him, there was a difference between being in government and being in power. A quintessential people's movement, June 12 will have its pride of place when the people of Nigeria hold the reins of power in our country.You don't probably think that the nation's democracy has benefited from June 12 elections'We still have some distance to travel. Having a democracy that works for all Nigerians is clearly still more of an aspiration than a reality. Yet it is my hope and prayer that as the President seeks now to recognise the martyrs whose death gave life to this republic; he will steer the ship of state on a new course where more voices inform public affairs, where resources are more evenly shared and public servants account for what they do. People died for this democracy and those given the privilege of leading us must make it work.
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