Democracy Day: What MKO Abiola did in Lagos on June 11, 1994

Not many Lagos residents remember what transpired in the state on June 11, 1994, one year after the controversial June 12, presidential election in 1993 which was won by late chief M.K.O. Abiola.

Perhaps because June 12, Nigeria's Democracy Day, is a national public holiday, a lot of residents tend to forget the significance of June 11, and how it is connected to Lagos.

MKO Abiola's declaration

Following the results of the June 12 presidential election, Abiola on June 11, 1994, declared himself as Nigeria's president. 

It is vital to note that Abiola made this famous declaration in Epetedo, an area mostly populated by the Yorubas. Of course, this was partly why June 12 was initially a Lagos public holiday until it was made national by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018.

Abiola's arrest

After declaring himself president Abiola was declared wanted, accused of treason and arrested on the orders of the then military head of state, late General Sani Abacha, who sent 200 police vehicles to…