Abdulmumin, MKO Abiola’s Son, Joins APC National Youth Leadership Contest …Dissociates his aspiration from recognition of June 12 mandate

Mr. Abdulmumin Abiola, the youngest son of the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Bashorun MKO Abiola, on Wednesday said he would contest for the office of National Youth Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) next Saturday.

Abdulmumin, the last child of the June 12 martyr, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, equally dissociated his aspiration from the recent decision of the federal government to declare June 12 Democracy Day and accord his father with the highest national honour.

He declared his intention at a session with select journalists in Lagos yesterday, noting that he joined the race with a plan to revive the youth wing of the APC.

The ruling party will hold its national convention next Saturday amid controversies over the unity list, which may pitch the APC governors against the National Working Committee (NWC) if the consensus list is eventually thrown out.

Amid the controversies, Abdulmumin declared interest in the APC national youth leadership position, ascribing it to his belief in the APC and that he had requirements “to give the youths the much needed direction to move Nigeria forward.

“Since I returned to Nigeria in 2007, I have been thinking about how to contribute to Nigeria’s political system. I have been thinking of how I can make a difference in the country’s political space. The next convention presents good opportunity.”

He explained that he had always been working hard “to bridge the gap between the youths and the political leadership. I have been working to enable the Nigerian youths contribute their quota to the development of Nigeria.”

By implication, he noted that he did not join the race for the office of the APC National Youth leader due to the recent recognition of his father’s mandate and the posthumous national honour conferred on the hero of democracy.

Rather, according to him, it is a decision born out of passion for public service and exigency of providing clear direction for the teeming population of Nigerian youths. I want to make my own mark. And I have consulted widely on this aspiration.

He equally commended President Buhari signing the Not-Too-Young-To-Run bill into law recently, though noted that Buhari’s decision to sign the bill was long overdue.

He added that the vibrant youths of the country would take advantage of the law to further ensure their participation in the political landscape of the country.

The Abiola son noted that he ventured into politics without any godfather or support from the presidency, claiming that God “is my political father. I have no godfather.”

He noted that his late father gives him much inspiration, though claimed that beneficiaries of his father’s kindness could rally round and extend hands of fellowship to him.

Abdulmumin holds first degree in Business Administration/ Accounting from prestigious Washington & Jefferson College, a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is 48 kilometres south of Pittsburgh.

After completing his programme in 2007, he returned to Nigeria. He joined Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and rose to become Head of Logistics, NNPC Mega Station.

He was appointed the Youth Coordinator of Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND), a non-governmental organisation founded in memory of his mother, who was shot death on June 9, 1994, at the peak of the June 12 struggle.

As the KIND Youth Coordinator,  Abdulmumin’s core responsibilities revolve around monitoring and targeting youth in rural area; organizing interactive workshops between KIND and female participants; promoting KIND programs to multi nationals as well as interacting with donor and presenting ideas toward future strategic planning