•22 Years After My Father’s Death
•Late M.K.O’s 1st Child, Hon. LOLA EDEWOR
On Friday, June 12, 2020 was the public holiday for the June 12 annulment which has since been declared as public holiday. Of course, it maybe a public holiday to many Nigerians but to the MKO Abiola family, it is a day to remember for many good and bad reasons.
Good in the sense that June 12 has been declared as democracy day while their late father, Bashorun was honoured with a posthumous award.
As usual, this year June 12 was not devoid of its usual celebration except that the crowd which always converge at the MKO Abiola mansion in Opebi had to be reduced due to Covid-19 pandemic.
But of course, all those who matter in Lagos were on ground to pay homage to the best President Nigeria we never had.
The Executive Governor of Lagos State, Governor Babatunde Fashola was represented by his deputy, Babafemi Hamzat. He was there with some Lagos State House of Assembly Members, politician to mention few.
Late MKO Abiola’s first child, Hon. Mrs. Lola Edewor and the matriarch of Abiola dynasty, Chief Mrs. Adebisi Moriamo Abiola, the wife of late MKO Abiola, Tundun Abiola were among many who received them.
Abiola’s children who share strong resemblance with their father also shared a very strong bond with him.
How have they been able to do this? How has Lola Edewor been able to keep the family dynasty together?
What has she learnt from her father? Mrs. Lola Edewor revealed this in an exclusive interview with City People Assistant Society Editor, ABIOLA ORISILE.
What have you missed about your father, MKO Abiola?
Where do I start from what I missed about my father MKO Abiola? My father was my parent. He was my mother and father to me. He taught me everything that I know. My dad was a man that has so much love to give. My father was at every graduation that I had in London. When I was in England, you could say England was close anyway, he would come over to visit. Like a mother would do, he would stop over at Chinese restaurants and buy takeaways and bring to me in school. When I was in America, he would come all the way from Nigeria to Los Angeles. I remember once, he came during the L.A. Olympics, if I am not mistaken. He came to L.A. and you know anytime your parent visit you, you get extral pocket money. He came and I picked him at the airport.
I had booked a hotel for him, a very nice hotel in L.A. This is because I thought, I will just go there every day and eat free food and all. But no. He said he was staying at my flat.
He said no, that is where I am going and Agbo is also coming along. I said, dad my flat is small. My dad came and Agbo, my younger brother was with him. We were all at my flat. Though, I wasn’t happy because I thought I was going to enjoy myself at the hotel.
Does that mean despite being rich, he is still prudent?
My father looked after us but we were not spoilt. He looked after us. He was always there. Many of us were in America at the same time. At some point he would come and stop in New York and then call and we go and join him in New York from our various point. It was nice you know. We got to stay in hotels. You know when you are in school, you got pocket money but when he is around, you order whatever you want and it was fun. He is a fantastic father.
You are his eldest child?
Yes, I am his eldest child. I am the first daughter. So I am the first child.
We saw how you related with all your siblings and your father’s wives, how were you able to keep the family together after 23 years of your father’s death?
The truth of the matter is it was easy keeping the family as one. We all lived together here and Surulere before we moved here in Ikeja. We have come along way. Aside from that, I am a woman, women are the cement of the home. We have our mothers as guardian. Alhaja Bisi Abiola, our matriarch is a mother. We do a lot of things together. She is a woman, a mother. She is a mother but a bigger mother. She has more exposure in homes and housekeeping things. So some of these things, she keeps an eye on the house because she is here, I don’t live here. She is a home-maker and you can see, dad has been gone for 22 years but the house still looks this way. We have to give her kudos.
When she calls me once, I answer her 3 times. I support her a lot in some of these things but finally, she is the one that lives here, I don’t live here. I am not here every day but she makes sure this house is in a condition that we all can be proud of today. If she leaves this house today, the house will run down.
Most of my brothers stay in Lagos, but what do men know about keeping a house? Without her, I don’t want to imagine what this house will look like. So we have a closely knitted family.
Is your mum the late Simbiat Abiola?
No, my mum was not in this house. That is why I said my father was my parent. My father was my father and mother in this house.
You have never granted an interview and we can see that you are very private, how do you juggle the role of a mother keeping up as Abiola’s first child?
Again, this has to do with my upbringing. We all know women are multi-tasking. We can do 5 things at the same time. If you give a woman 5 roles, she will juggle them and make them work.
What are the few things you have learnt from your father even in death?
Compassion and giving. No matter how long you live, you must be able to live an impactful life. We are talking about my father today, how do you want to be remembered? It is not just about money. Impact is not just about money, it is about how you help other people grow. Those are the things we need. How do you impact in people lives that they become useful to people around them. It is very important. This is what I have learnt from my father and what I want to live for.
