MKO’s son, Abdulmumuni, slams brother Kola for mismanaging father’s legacy

Mumini said Kola is unfit to become Nigeria’s president Photo credit: @OneJoblessBoy Source: Twitter Read

Abdulmumuni Abiola, the son of the winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, popularly known as MKO Abiola, has faulted his brother, Kola, for failing to properly manage their father’s legacies.

In a recent podcast interview on Saturday night, Abdulmumuni blamed Kola for not doing enough to uphold their father’s legacy, despite being in a position to do so.

He alleged that Kola was more interested in pursuing a relationship with former Head of State General Ibrahim Babangida’s daughter while their father was in prison than carrying on his father’s struggle.

Abdulmumuni also stated that his father’s efforts and sacrifices had not been adequately preserved or honoured, and he called for a more concerted effort to recognise MKO Abiola’s contributions to Nigerian democracy.

When asked if he had a good relationship with his brother Kola, he replied, “Well, I do not think we really do. The last time I saw him, he said, and I quote, “Do I want to do fire for fire?”

“I asked him, ‘taba se fire for fire se ama jeun?’ (Would we eat if it’s done that way?) when the whole of Nigeria is on fire. So if the idea is that I’m already on fire, let’s do it.

“As long as there are proceeds that will come out, I will be able to take care of my family and people who need help in general.

“So yes, we’re not on good terms, and it’s sad for me to say that. You know I don’t want to have an issue with my older brother. He’s my older brother. I love him, you know, and I hope he loves me, but I have no ill-will.”

Abdulmumuni also stated that preserving his father’s legacy was a team effort rather than a one-man show.

“I’m just saying that this is our collective responsibility, and if you’re not doing your part, then you should just step aside. It’s very simple,” he stated.

Abdulmumuni also mocked Kola’s presidential ambitions, questioning his ability to lead the nation when he struggled to manage their father’s empire.

Kola, who ran for president in the 2024 general election under the People’s Redemption Party, received only 2,097 votes nationwide.

Abdulmumuni stated, “You saw how many people voted for him when he said he wanted to be president. I wonder how he thought he could be president.

“You cannot manage Abiola’s empire. How do you want to manage Nigeria? How does that work?

“This is the problem in Nigeria. People who are not showing capacity in their own little spaces of work want to now get a higher position. You don’t deserve a higher position.”

Asked if he voted for his brother (Kola), he added, “I told him—I said, ‘You’re not going to use my money to do a campaign. Give me my money first and go and campaign’.”

And when the host asked if and why he thought Kola owed him anything, Abdulmumin declared, “He owes me a lot.

“Well, first of all, if he just listens to what my father said in the will and does what he’s rightfully supposed to do like every other person has done, he’s not the first to be the first son. Look at the Folawiyos as an example.

“We have lost so much. There’s so much property that my father had in this country that we can never get back because people have sat on it and they’re using it to take care of their families, but the issue here is: who is to lose? It was our money that was used to buy these things.

“Those properties—you cannot build them today with the kind of money you’re going to spend. I’m talking about the silo in Lafiagi, Kwara State—20,000 metric tonnes of silo on 10,000 hectares of land. How much do you want to pay for that land now?

“You know it’s sad that you know your father has reached a certain level and you cannot continue from where he stopped.”