Abiola’s family dispute to be resolved soon – Kinsman

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The dispute within the family of late Moshood Abiola is set to be resolved, the deceased’s kinsman has said.

Taiwo Sobande, the Chairman of Annual Agura Day celebration, told journalists on Saturday that kinsmen from Gbagura community in Egbaland of Ogun State had waded in to resolve the crisis which commenced immediately after the death of the billionaire politician in 1998.

Mr. Abiola died in prison where he was put by the military junta for insisting that he be sworn-in as president after he won the June 12, 1993 presidential election, considered one of the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history.

Dispute over the property he left behind among his many wives and children have torn his family apart since then.

Speaking while answering questions on the 2014 Gbagura day, Mr. Sobande said the dispute is about to be resolved.

“I can tell you that the crisis within the family is at the close of permanent solution,” he said. “We have come in to ensure peace and that peace is returning.”

He added that “late Abiola is our notable son, who contributed meaningfully to the (Gbagura) community, as well as the entire Egbaland and Nigeria as a whole; so we cannot fold our arms, seeing the family he left behind going into disarray or extinction.”

Speaking  on the celebration, Mr. Sobande explained that the Gbagura Day brings sons and daughters of the community back home annually.

“It has become an avenue that provides opportunity of meeting with one another; discuss issues and problems; and also promote unity and love for the development of Gbagura nation and Egbaland in general,” he said.

He said the ceremony will also include fund raising to assist in development of infrastructure in schools within the community.

He said the theme of this year’s celebration is “The Nation Re-Discovered” and the event will kick off on Monday.

The programmes scheduled for the event include gbedu drum, music talent hunt, road show, symposium, scholarship fund launch, ayo game, traditional hair plaiting, and football competition.

Mr. Sobande disclosed that one of the awardees for the event would be a late wife of Mr. Abiola, S