I turned down N800,000 gift from MKO Abiola – Sowore

Omoyele Sowore, publisher-cum-politician, has shared a riveting account of how he declined the offer of N800,000 as a gift from the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.

Sowore recalled his encounter with MKO during his appearance on The Honest Bunch podcast, released by Glitch Africa Studios to YouTube on Monday evening.

The Sahara Reporters publisher, who was 21 years old at the time of the event, said he led a delegation, in his capacity as the leader of the University of Lagos Student Union, to meet Abiola shortly after General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the election.

In what turned out to be the first and last meeting with the business mogul, Abiola offered Sowore N800,000, a gift the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 election claimed to have declined.

This memorable encounter left a lasting impression, as it marked the only time Sowore had the opportunity to meet the man, who is widely regarded as Nigeria’s rightful president.

Sowore recalls meeting with MKO

Responding to a question about a viral photo of him with Chief MKO Abiola, one of the wealthiest men in Africa at the time, Sowore explained that the image was taken in 1993 when he was 21, shortly after the military annulled the June 12 election.

“We started protesting immediately, but while the protest was going on, we were concerned about whether Abiola was strong enough to fight the battle we were ready for—the battle of our lives.

“This was the year I was supposed to graduate from university,” he explained.

“So one day, we drove directly to his house in the Student Union bus and walked into his parlour. We asked to see him, breaking all the protocols.

“When we arrived, he asked, ‘Who are these people?’ and I stepped forward. He recognised me and said, ‘Ah, student union leader, I know you. Good job!” he said.

Sowore further revealed that the first thing he said to Abiola was whether he was prepared for the upcoming battle. 

“I said to him, ‘Are you ready for this battle? Are you ready to die for Nigerians?’ and he said yes. Then, as we walked into the room, we saw politicians clinging to their bags because they were there to collect money. Abiola had a large duffel bag of cash beside him. I told him that these people didn’t believe in his mandate and would betray him,” he said.

Sowore continued, “Abiola then reached for his duffel bag and started counting N800,000. He placed it on our side and said, ‘Student union leaders — this is for your transportation.’”

However, the then-union leader rejected the money, explaining that he couldn’t have come from UNILAG to Abiola’s house for N800,000 in 1993.

“I told him, ‘Chief, forget the transportation; how can N800,000 cover transport from UNILAG to here?’ We did not take the money, but he insisted. He had never given money to anyone before, but we rejected it.”

The former AAC presidential flag-bearer recalled that the tension in the room was palpable, especially as some politicians were dissatisfied with his stance. “I was wearing slippers and my only Ankara outfit. When they saw my firm stance, Chief Anthony Enahoro, who was also there, supported me.”

He recounted how, while trying to douse the tension, Abiola led them outside, where John Momoh, now the owner of Channels Television, and his cameraman were waiting to interview Abiola. “That’s when the famous photo was taken,” Sowore said.

He added that he only became aware of the photo’s existence in 2018, saying “I didn’t know the footage existed until 2018.

“A photographer, Tunji Oyelero, who worked at Vanguard, had taken the photo but never gave it to me. He passed away before I got it, and one day, someone sent it to me.”