We miss many things about MKO – Neighbours

Before and Now

On Wednesday, June 12, 2013, it will be exactly two decades since the historic 1993 presidential elections. Incidentally, July 7 this year, about a month from today, will mark 15 years since the acclaimed winner of the election, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, died in detention five years after it was annulled.

In life, the late philanthropist meant different things to different people. His home and the street leading to it, Moshood Abiola Crescent, off Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos were a beehive of activities in his lifetime.

People of different classes, especially the less privileged, thronged the billionaire businessman’s home daily, to seek favours, alms and food.

It is a different picture 15 years after his demise, as the crowd has since disappeared. Moshood Abiola crescent, off Toyin Street, Ikeja, where he lived with his family, seemed to have lost its substance with Abiola’s passage. His house with its expansive grounds, still sits on the crescent but many say it is now a mere shadow of its former self.

With a football field, lawn tennis and basketball courts, expansive parking lot that can reportedly take about 100 cars, Abiola’s residence stands out in the area. Before his arrest in 1993, sources said Abiola lived in the palatial residence with about 100 persons, including his four most senior wives, their children, relatives, workers and about 20 security officials. At the time, each of the wives reportedly had about six housekeepers and two drivers and the residence was reputed to be full of excitement and fun each day.

Indeed, Abiola and the four wives who were living in the compound with him – the late Mrs. Simbiat Abiola; the late Mrs. Kudirat Abiola; Mrs. Bisi Abiola; and Dr. Doyin Abiola, all had separate apartments.

Abiola’s apartment famously sat on a swimming pool, while Simbiat’s was said to be slightly more elevated than the five-bedroom flats each of the other senior wives lived in with their children.

Also, about four other wives, including Mrs. Bolatito Sikirat Abiola, had separate houses on the crescent.

Some of the long-serving workers of the late politician, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, said in his lifetime, each day had a festive ambience. They recalled that at that time, there was always enough food to eat and drink.

Sports personalities were also not left out, given Abiola’s eminent position as the Pillar of Sports in Africa and the founder of the defunct Abiola Babes Football Club.

A worker said, “We always had guests: politicians, celebrities, footballers and other personalities. Anytime the Super Eagles won, the players would come here. There was always enough to eat and drink. Many of us didn’t even know there was anything like power supply from NEPA (now Power Holding Company of Nigeria) because the automatic generator would take over without any sign.

“Anytime any of Chief’s (Abiola) children was celebrating a birthday, it was like a carnival because a prominent musician must be here to play and guests would come. After Kola’s (first son) wedding, when everything had ended, there was still 36 cows left, with nothing to be done with them. But most times, such things were gifts brought from all over to honour Abiola.”

Sometimes, top movie producers also took their works, which could still be in the cinema, to Abiola’s residence for the viewing of the household at the compound’s conference hall, some of the workers toldSaturday PUNCH.

“There was never a boring moment; Abiola loved kids, so we used to have lots of kids in the house,” another worker added.

It is said that Abiola always had money and gifts, especially shiny ones, for little children, whether in his room or on his way back from the mosque.

Sadly, the massive structure is the opposite of what it used to be as sources described. During Saturday PUNCH’s visit to the residence, flowers were being trimmed while other maintenance works were ongoing. But the compound had an uneasy quiet, in spite of its expansiveness.

Only a few workers were in sight, with most of the children, relatives and workers gone. There are said to be about 20 persons currently living in the compound, with many former inhabitants having died or left.

The crescent is also much quieter with the passing on of the popular businessman, publisher and politician.

In Abiola’s days, beggars were said to line the crescent everyday, with a firm hope that they would take something home.

A resident, who identified himself as Tajudeen, said, “Anytime he (Abiola) drove by, he would arrange for someone to make provision for them or he would give them money personally. The queues were usually very long; in fact, when I was younger, I used to think that all those people were also residents in the crescent.

“People also had informants in the crescent who would tell them whenever Abiola was around, considering the speed it took some people to get here. After his death, everything just changed.”

Another resident, Mr. Ayobami Alao, said the crescent had lost its glamour and taken on a pale outlook with Abiola’s demise.

He said, “Now, it’s so boring in terms of activities but it used to be always lively. It’s only you and your family now.”

Saturday PUNCH took up one of Abiola’s sons, Mr. Olalekan Yusau Abiola, on why things had changed since his father died.

He said the crowds that thronged the crescent when his father was alive were attracted by the philantopist’s generosity.

Olalekan said, “People were always coming to come and collect something. But my father is no longer alive and his businesses have been crippled. the family is no longer in a good shape to be able to continue doing that kind of thing anymore.

“Obviously, you will not see people coming like they used to, but some of his children are still here. Two of his wives are still living here and the mosque is still open. So maybe not as many people as before come here, but we still have people coming in.”

Interestingly, Abiola was not just an exciting character in his lifetime, even his death was attention-grabbing for residents on the crescent.

As a resident recalled, “I knew he had four official wives in his house and four or five others on the crescent before he died, but when he died, I saw so many women here, either as wives or those claiming to have children for him. And they were all crying that they had lost their husband, but who could argue with them?”