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In this fourth segment of The Last Exclusive Interview with His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Okunade Adele Sijuwade, Olubuse II — The 50th Ooni of Ife, Kabiyesi reveals the real story behind his relationship with Chief MKO Abiola, the June 12 crisis, and his historic role in the creation of Osun State.
For the FIRST time, Kabiyesi explains how Abiola was like a younger brother to him long before politics and how he supported him financially during the June 12 struggle, even when he personally disagreed with some of Abiola’s political choices.
He also recounts the explosive July 26, 1993 meeting in Abuja, where he stood before Babangida, the Sultan, 30 traditional rulers, and declared that if Abiola’s mandate was not restored, the Yoruba people were ready to pull out of Nigeria. His words shook the entire room into silence.
And in another powerful revelation, Kabiyesi narrates how he single-handedly secured the creation of Osun State — confronting Babangida privately, coordinating Yoruba traditional rulers, and pushing through a political decision that changed the history of Yorubaland forever.
This is one of the most revealing and emotional chapters of the entire interview a story of loyalty, courage, political battles, and the unseen influence of the throne of Ife.
Read this historic segment and see June 12, Abiola, and Osun State through the eyes of the OONI who lived it.
INTERVIEWER:
You mentioned Chief MKO Abiola, what was your relationship with him? Because there are those who say that you did not support the June 12 cause in relation to Abiola?
KABIYESI:
You see, it’s a long story. Abiola had been coming to greet me before I became Ooni. I used to give Abiola business to do. Abiola was the closest friend of my late younger brother, Dapo. So Abiola was a younger brother to me. Awolowo was above Abiola. Abiola was one of those who did not allow Awolowo to reach his goal and that is partly why we are suffering today. That is why Yorubas are suffering today. If Awolowo had made it to being the president of this country, this country would have been great. Abiola had been planning to be president for 20 years. I believe so much in your ability but I don’t believe in you destroying anybody. Whether I believe in June 12 or not, I donated and gave Abiola money up to four times. In my house in London, Abiola was with me up to three times. I knew Abiola very well and he was very close to me.
INTERVIEWER:
After June 12, the traditional rulers visited the Federal government and when they came out, you spoke on their behalf. You said June 12 was gone and that the people, in the context of a possible re-run of the elections, should go out and participate. Can you tell us what happened?
KABIYESI:
There was nothing like that. It was July 26, 1993. There was a meeting in Abuja and my phone rang. We were staying in Nicon Hotel; it was the Awujale who said he was on his way. By 9:30 p.m, the door opened and it was the Awujale, followed by Alaafin and the late Oba of Lagos, Adeyinka Oyekan. They sat down. They asked me what was going to happen tomorrow. I said we had been invited by the government, but that we could play a fast one on them! Let’s tell them at the meeting tomorrow that, that as fathers of Abiola, since he (Abiola) had won the elections and if there was no cogent reason why he had not been appointed as the president, the Yoruba will break from the Nigerian union the next day.
The Awujale said: Alayeluwa baba, you are going to say it because 70 per cent of Yoruba’s problems are on the Ooni. I replied and said, That was the headache of the Federal government and not mine. If I say it and I am detained, tell them at home!!
The meeting started and the President spoke for a few minutes. The former Sultan, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, spoke and then it was my turn to speak. I said, Mr. President, first and foremost, by way of digression, when we were here in April, I told you exactly that in my temple in Ife, I saw darkness descending on Nigeria and that you should take steps. I said the next speaker after me on that day, was the Oba of Benin, who affirmed what I said and yet, you did nothing. I said that darkness has now engulfed Nigeria. That was by way of digression.
I said, Abiola, who is our own son should have the mandate of the people. He won the elections; you refused to appoint him. If there was no cogent reason, then the Yorubas are no longer interested in the Nigerian union. There were 30 traditional rulers there when I spoke and the whole place was dead in silence. Everybody on that day spoke in my favour. They didn’t want secession; they didn’t want the country to break-up. So, they were more or less on my side except one traditional ruler from Imo State. He said: Why don’t you allow the government do whatever they think is right.
The Awujale was sitting opposite me. When he took the microphone, he said: Mr. President, you know I always disagree with the Ooni every now and then, but on this occasion, I agree with Ooni a hundred per cent. President Babangida later took the microphone. He said gentlemen, I am the closest to Abiola’s family and what I have done is for friendship sake. He brought out a file and said he has paid Abiola over $800 million for jobs done and those not done. The whole place was dead silent.
Yet, I was not satisfied; I raised my hand and then Dasuki spoke in Yoruba to me to let the matter die there. Still, I was not happy. After the meeting, as we stood up, about six Emirs moved close to me and said: Ooni, you are not going today. We will come to your hotel room at 8 p.m.
At that time, Uche Chukwumerije, who was then the Minister of Information, moved nearer and said: Your Majesty, the press is waiting. I followed him out. When the press asked about the outcome of the meeting, I said the president spoke sense, but that we were going back home because we had a mandate from our people.
When I got to my hotel, I met my aide who said I had been misquoted. I asked my aide, Why do you bother your head? Some three Emirs later came to my hotel room and said: Ooni, we saw you today being very annoyed but the downfall of Abiola has nothing to do with us. Abiola was used by the military and he is having problems with the military. Ooni, give us a Yoruba man that can rule this country and the entire north will not raise any eyebrow. That was how the Yorubas came to rule. I further asked the Emirs if they could reconsider and they said that the north had no hand in Abiola’s downfall but that I should present a Yorubaman to rule the country.
INTERVIEWER:
There are two names you’ve mentioned repeatedly, Babangida and Obasanjo. What is your relationship with Babangida today? First because during his last visit to Ile-Ife, on his way out of office, just before Osun State was created, we were assured that Ife would become the state capital at that time and of course, it never happened. What was your relationship with Babangida then, and now?
KABIYESI:
We did not put our foot down that Ife had to be the state capital. I single handedly got Osun State created. The Orangun of Ila phoned me and said they were coming to see me. When they came, they said they have done their best for this state, and that they wanted to hand it over to me and I asked him what do you mean by that. So, I phoned Babangida that I wanted to come and see him. He said that I should come and I told him at that meeting that I wanted a state. He said, Kabiyesi, why do you want me to break Yorubaland any further? I said, the one you gave us in Oyo State cannot even develop Ibadan, how much more other towns surrounding Oyo State. He said, Kabiyesi, that’s a very good point, and he promised to help.
But on that occasion, I didn’t tell him that Ife had to be the capital. Few months later, Oba Olashore was launching his book, though he was not an Oba then. Babaginda was the chief guest of honour and I was the chairman, while Abiola was the chief launcher. Twenty traditional rulers went to that launching, led by Orangun of Ila, late Oba Ayeni. After the ceremony, I told the president that the traditional rulers from Oyo would like to greet him. As he (Babangida) stretched his hand to the Orogun of Ila, he said, Mr. President, where is our state? He said that the Ooni has spoken to him and he would help at the appropriate time. That’s how we got to the state. But Abiola was working with Ataoja, but God’s time is the best. So, I don’t blame Babangida for anything.
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