By Olayiwola Ajisafe
The revelations by Abdulmumuni Abiola shed light on the complexities surrounding the inheritance and family dynamics of the late Moshood Abiola’s estate. Abdulmumuni’s candid remarks in the interview provide a personal view of the challenges faced by some of the Abiola children despite their father’s considerable wealth.
It’s particularly striking that while Moshood Abiola willed specific amounts to his first four wives—Simbiat, Kudirat, Moriamo, and Idiat—there seems to be a legal and personal struggle over the disbursement of these funds. Abdulmumuni’s account highlights his frustration, particularly towards his older brother, Kola Abiola, who is accused of withholding the £150,000 willed to Kudirat’s children on the grounds that Kudirat predeceased their father. This reasoning, according to Abdulmumuni, appears flawed, as it is claimed that Kola was in control of the estate distribution and could have chosen to release the funds if he wished.
The allegations regarding the sale of Kudirat’s UK apartment without informing her children further deepens the rift, with Abdulmumuni perceiving it as a deliberate attempt to disadvantage their side of the family. His reflections on their financial struggles, including having to rely on his sister’s braiding skills and another sibling’s speeches at universities to make ends meet, paint a stark contrast to the image of wealth often associated with the Abiola name.
This tension within the Abiola family underscores how even in cases of substantial wealth, inheritance issues can become contentious, especially in polygamous families with complex family structures. It also highlights the broader challenge of ensuring fair and transparent distribution of assets when multiple family members are involved, often leading to long-lasting emotional and financial divides.
Moshood Abiola’s legacy as a businessman and a political figure, notably as the winner of the annulled 1993 presidential election, looms large in Nigerian history. His imprisonment and eventual death in detention were pivotal moments in the country’s struggle for democracy. While his contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey have been posthumously recognized, including the declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day, his family’s internal struggles over his estate present a more personal and complicated side of his legacy.
Abdulmumuni’s revelations offer a glimpse into the human side of this famous family, showing how wealth does not always translate into harmony, and how legal and personal battles can sometimes obscure the larger-than-life legacy of a historical figure like Moshood Abiola.
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