Kola Abiola, son of late MKO Abiola, says he cannot publicly react to his sister, Hafsat comparing Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello to their late father.
The Herald earlier reported that Bello appointed Hafsat Abiola-Costello as the Director-General of his presidential campaign.
Bello also adopted ‘Hope 2023’ as his campaign slogan, similar to MKO Abiola’s campaign slogan in the 1993 presidential election.
Explaining why she accepted the appointment, she said she saw her father’s qualities in the Kogi governor.
One of the similarities between her late philanthropist father and the Kogi governor, was that they both refused to have political godfathers, Hafsat Abiola-Costello said.
She added that another similarity was that the late MKO believed in a United Nigeria, just like Bello, noting that he also treated everyone around him with respect regardless of their social standing.
“These are the same qualities I have seen in the Kogi governor.. He dared to contest, not minding that he was from a minority tribe in Kogi and won, and he has come out again. My father did the same, when it was believed that a Yoruba man could not be President.
“Yahaya Bello is the best man for the job. And you know me, I’m not driven by pecuniary considerations. I do what I believe in. In the next seven weeks, we will be working hard, and when we emerge, we will deliver a Nigeria of our dreams,” she said.
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In a reaction, Hafsat’s half-sister Tundun berated her for allegedly cheapening their father’s legacy.
Reacting to the controversy generated, Kola Abiola declined to berated Hafsat in public over her comment, saying he did not know the Kogi governor well enough to speak on his similarities to MKO Abiola.
Speaking an Arise TV programme on Friday, Kola Abiola said, “My late father, MKO, is a national brand that belongs to all Nigerians. We’re the custodians of that brand and for me, as the head of the family, my response is a lot more mature. I’d rather not discuss family issues publicly. That’s my role. It’s to protect that, and not just to protect that, but to protect what MKO himself stands for.
“So, I won’t comment publicly on that. If I have my comments, when I see Hafsat, I’ll make them directly to her or any family member that wants my comments. But publicly, I’d never do that.
“They’ve come to me to ask and I’ve told them what I think and that’s it. It’s family. I won’t go public. I have to play the mature one here and that’s always been my role even at my own expense, detriment, because that’s the role I’m meant to play.
“I think I’ve met Yahaya Bello one or twice. I don’t know him to talk about him. I don’t know him well enough. Also, he’s a lot younger than I am anyway. I’m not so old either, but that’s that.”