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| Mumuni Abiola meets The GDA |
Abdul-Mumuni Abiola is late business mogul and winner of the annulled June 12, 1993
Presidential election, Bashorun Moshood
Kashimawo Olawale Abiola’s 6th son. He is equally late Martyr of
Democracy; Hajia Kudirat Abiola’s last born. Mumuni has his
father’s baritone voice but without the stammering. He is equally gifted with a
very forceful personality you can’t ignore.
Presidential election, Bashorun Moshood
Kashimawo Olawale Abiola’s 6th son. He is equally late Martyr of
Democracy; Hajia Kudirat Abiola’s last born. Mumuni has his
father’s baritone voice but without the stammering. He is equally gifted with a
very forceful personality you can’t ignore.
Many years ago when he finished his
studies in America and returned home, a lot of people would have mistaken him
for an intending Hip-Hop Musician as his American accent reverberated so much
in his voice and even up till date,
Mumuni still churn out heavy American ascent amidst his baritone voice
which is something unique about his personality. In the follow-up years, Mumuni has grown rapidly into one of
the prominent voices and faces of the yearly celebration of his parent’s
memoriam. Either on June 12 during
the celebration of the democracy his father, MKO Abiola symbolizes or during June 4, the remembrance of the day his darling mother, Kudirat Abiola was assassinated by
goons of the brutal regime of late General
Sani Abacha or July 7, the day his
famous dad died in the gulag of the military junta of General Abdulsalami Abubakar while fighting to
retrieve his mandate, Mumuni is a face
and a voice in the various memorial services and his voice is permanently heard
in the local media.
Last Saturday November 21st,
during the naming ceremony of the newborn baby of Alhaji Jamiu Abiodun Abiola (Mumuni’s elder brother) your Africa’s
number 1 Celebrity encounter blog Asabeafrika
ran into the 30 years old Abiola and
what he shared with us was something that shows that this young CEO of Webby Designs Ltd has come off age and
in a steady, responsible adulthood. For the very first time, he told us the
story of Iduroti, the beautiful
woman who stole his heart and changed his life. The relationship is blessed
with two lovely children, Omar &
Jaza. Enjoy the excerpts
during the naming ceremony of the newborn baby of Alhaji Jamiu Abiodun Abiola (Mumuni’s elder brother) your Africa’s
number 1 Celebrity encounter blog Asabeafrika
ran into the 30 years old Abiola and
what he shared with us was something that shows that this young CEO of Webby Designs Ltd has come off age and
in a steady, responsible adulthood. For the very first time, he told us the
story of Iduroti, the beautiful
woman who stole his heart and changed his life. The relationship is blessed
with two lovely children, Omar &
Jaza. Enjoy the excerpts
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| Mumuni Abiola to Asabeafrika…’Iduroti my wife has brought out the best in me’ |
You have prominently shown as one of the
faces of the Democratic Honor given to your dad, MKO every June 12 and your
mum, Kudirat Abiola every June 4. Besides that, what do you do for a living?
faces of the Democratic Honor given to your dad, MKO every June 12 and your
mum, Kudirat Abiola every June 4. Besides that, what do you do for a living?
Right now, I
manage an IT company called Webby
Designs Ltd. We are into computer importation and we are also working on
bringing in education unto our platform, we are going to launch an IT cum
education platform very soon. I believe we can do more projects that has to do
with merging this two areas of interest because I think there is more work to
do in the area of merging IT and Education because they are both essential for
the development of our young people and the emerging generation. I am also into
contracts here and there.
manage an IT company called Webby
Designs Ltd. We are into computer importation and we are also working on
bringing in education unto our platform, we are going to launch an IT cum
education platform very soon. I believe we can do more projects that has to do
with merging this two areas of interest because I think there is more work to
do in the area of merging IT and Education because they are both essential for
the development of our young people and the emerging generation. I am also into
contracts here and there.
What defines you; I mean what can you
say is your philosophy of life?
say is your philosophy of life?
Well, I am
only 30, maybe I might not have really come up with a proper philosophy but
what I will say is that I try to learn from people who are older than I do,
like my elder brother Jamiu (Abiola) who is very good in business, I try to
learn and I always feel there is so much knowledge to learn from him because he
is very humble despite his success. Being humble alone make you to know that
one man can never be an island of knowledge. So, you have to collaborate with
people in order for you to be great in life. So, I think my philosophy is
basically to find the possibility to be open to new ideas that rules the
world.
only 30, maybe I might not have really come up with a proper philosophy but
what I will say is that I try to learn from people who are older than I do,
like my elder brother Jamiu (Abiola) who is very good in business, I try to
learn and I always feel there is so much knowledge to learn from him because he
is very humble despite his success. Being humble alone make you to know that
one man can never be an island of knowledge. So, you have to collaborate with
people in order for you to be great in life. So, I think my philosophy is
basically to find the possibility to be open to new ideas that rules the
world.
“There is a time for everything and I
think I went through the party-freak stage when I was in America and when I got
back home I was very, very glitzy in my attitude but now I have a family and
you can trust my thinking would have changed. Now, I have a family to cater
for, you must provide for your family because you can’t blow all the money in
the club any longer because you have to give leadership at home. You have to
trade the club with the home front”
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| Mumuni Abiola with his bundles of joy, Omar & Jaza Abiola |
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| Mrs. Iduroti Abiola and kids, Jaza & Omar Abiola |
When you returned from America ten
years ago, you were much more like a hip-hop guy with more things flying in
your head but here you are now a family man. What has changed in Mumuni Abiola?
years ago, you were much more like a hip-hop guy with more things flying in
your head but here you are now a family man. What has changed in Mumuni Abiola?
Well, I will
say I have grown up and living in Nigeria has made one see many problems and
all I do everyday is try to see how I will be able to eliminate some of the
challenges and bring great solutions to the problems and I think that is what
defines a man. There is a time for everything and I think I went through the
party-freak stage when I was in America and when I got back home I was very,
very glitzy in my attitude but now I have a family and you can trust my
thinking would have changed. Now, I have a family to cater for, you must
provide for your family because you can’t blow all the money in the club any
longer because you have to give leadership at home. You have to trade the club
with the home front. But at the same
time, it is always good for people to actually make that connection that when
you have a responsibility you should take it up; you shouldn’t drop your
responsibilities. You should always take it up and don’t shelve your
responsibility for pleasure.
say I have grown up and living in Nigeria has made one see many problems and
all I do everyday is try to see how I will be able to eliminate some of the
challenges and bring great solutions to the problems and I think that is what
defines a man. There is a time for everything and I think I went through the
party-freak stage when I was in America and when I got back home I was very,
very glitzy in my attitude but now I have a family and you can trust my
thinking would have changed. Now, I have a family to cater for, you must
provide for your family because you can’t blow all the money in the club any
longer because you have to give leadership at home. You have to trade the club
with the home front. But at the same
time, it is always good for people to actually make that connection that when
you have a responsibility you should take it up; you shouldn’t drop your
responsibilities. You should always take it up and don’t shelve your
responsibility for pleasure.
What did you study in America?
I studied
accounting at Washington and Jefferson University.
accounting at Washington and Jefferson University.
Was it because dad was also an
accountant in his life time?
accountant in his life time?
Yeah,
actually I was always trying to take after dad’s foot step. I have always
wanted to be like MKO Abiola regardless
of the fact that he is my dad. I still want to be like him. He was a great man.
actually I was always trying to take after dad’s foot step. I have always
wanted to be like MKO Abiola regardless
of the fact that he is my dad. I still want to be like him. He was a great man.
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| Mumuni Abiola in his younger days |
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| Mumuni…a happy dad showing love to son, Omar Abiola |
Do you want to be like him in the
area of women as well?
area of women as well?
Well, I can
tell you that it is in my DNA because I noticed that I have appreciation for women
but right now we are in 2015 and we cannot afford to live like my dad in that
regard because if you do, you might find yourself under a heavy financial
burden. I am alone for my family now and if I try to do that I will possibly go
crazy. I try to emulate my father in every other thing but I cannot go near the
women thing (Laughter) if it is the money thing, I will probably work hard like
him and become rich.
tell you that it is in my DNA because I noticed that I have appreciation for women
but right now we are in 2015 and we cannot afford to live like my dad in that
regard because if you do, you might find yourself under a heavy financial
burden. I am alone for my family now and if I try to do that I will possibly go
crazy. I try to emulate my father in every other thing but I cannot go near the
women thing (Laughter) if it is the money thing, I will probably work hard like
him and become rich.
A lot of people said you look so much
like your father and you equally have his charisma, do you have the intention
of going into politics like he did?
like your father and you equally have his charisma, do you have the intention
of going into politics like he did?
Well,
hopefully, but I want to go into politics in a way that I will be able to harness
ideas that will better the society. In a way that even if I am not in politics
my opinions and orientation can always reverberate and drive solution in every
corner of discourse. I will also like to learn it before I earn it so that when
I get in there, I will now be able to act on what I have learnt. You have to
learnt the rope from those that are in it because politics is a world on its
own and it is something you have to be ethical about because you are not just
going to represent yourself in the long run but you are going to represent your
constituency and that is why you must play it in a way that when you leave the
stage you will be able to sleep peacefully at night.
hopefully, but I want to go into politics in a way that I will be able to harness
ideas that will better the society. In a way that even if I am not in politics
my opinions and orientation can always reverberate and drive solution in every
corner of discourse. I will also like to learn it before I earn it so that when
I get in there, I will now be able to act on what I have learnt. You have to
learnt the rope from those that are in it because politics is a world on its
own and it is something you have to be ethical about because you are not just
going to represent yourself in the long run but you are going to represent your
constituency and that is why you must play it in a way that when you leave the
stage you will be able to sleep peacefully at night.
“The most important thing is that I
have a family whose name looms large around the world and that name has been
used to achieve so many good things in the democratic process of my country;
that sounds to me like an achievement than regret”.
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| Mumuni Abiola with the GDA, then |
What do you regret about your family,
I mean the MKO Abiola’s family?
I mean the MKO Abiola’s family?
No, regret
is not the right word. The reality of the sacrifice my family made for
democracy is something I cannot control and I don’t cry over what I cannot
control. The most important thing is that I have a family whose name looms
large around the world and that name has been used to achieve so many good
things in the democratic process of my country; that sounds to me like an
achievement than regret. My brothers and
sisters are doing well in their various endeavors and from here we can take it
up. I am fulfilled in so many ways.
is not the right word. The reality of the sacrifice my family made for
democracy is something I cannot control and I don’t cry over what I cannot
control. The most important thing is that I have a family whose name looms
large around the world and that name has been used to achieve so many good
things in the democratic process of my country; that sounds to me like an
achievement than regret. My brothers and
sisters are doing well in their various endeavors and from here we can take it
up. I am fulfilled in so many ways.
Do you have a role model?
My role
model is MKO Abiola.
model is MKO Abiola.
“The good thing about Iduroti is that Iduroti was different. She encouraged me to be better than I was
when I came across her. Before I met Iduroti, I felt there was something
empty about me, when they say ‘behind every successful man is a woman, I
couldn’t comprehend’ but Iduroti
gave a meaning to that saying in my life”.
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| Mumuni…a happy dad with his daughter Jaza Abiola |
You mean your dad is your role model,
why?
why?
Yeah, my
father is my first mentor and role model. After him I have been able to find so
many other people who I admire their sense of leadership and ability to change
things like my father, someone like the Governor of Osun State, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola is a very, very important person in my life. If you talk
about someone like Lagos State Speaker, Honorable
Obasa, Honorable Osninowo, even Honorable Adeyemi Ikuforiji when he was
in office, he was quite a good man and the likes of Chief Wale Babalakin, Dr.
Taiwo Afolabi, there are just so many people that I will want to model
myself after them because I feel they are doing the right thing and society is
bound to honor them.
father is my first mentor and role model. After him I have been able to find so
many other people who I admire their sense of leadership and ability to change
things like my father, someone like the Governor of Osun State, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola is a very, very important person in my life. If you talk
about someone like Lagos State Speaker, Honorable
Obasa, Honorable Osninowo, even Honorable Adeyemi Ikuforiji when he was
in office, he was quite a good man and the likes of Chief Wale Babalakin, Dr.
Taiwo Afolabi, there are just so many people that I will want to model
myself after them because I feel they are doing the right thing and society is
bound to honor them.
You are a good dresser, what informs
your dress sense?
your dress sense?
I think you
know my father, he was a very flashy dresser; I am not different. It is good
when a son is taking after his father in some certain areas of life like good
dress sense.
know my father, he was a very flashy dresser; I am not different. It is good
when a son is taking after his father in some certain areas of life like good
dress sense.
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| Mumuni Abiola with a Friend |
Is your wife Ibo or a Yoruba lady?
She is half
Yoruba and half Niger-Delta
Yoruba and half Niger-Delta
Kindly tell us her name?
Iduroti
Abiola.
Abiola.
What a name? Iduroti?
Her father
is actually from Abeokuta in Ogun State and her mum is from Asaba in Delta
state.
is actually from Abeokuta in Ogun State and her mum is from Asaba in Delta
state.
What informed your decision to marry Iduroti?
The good
thing about Iduroti is that Iduroti was different. She
encouraged me to be better than I was when I came across her. Before I met Iduroti, I felt there was
something empty about me, when they say ‘behind every successful man is a
woman, I couldn’t comprehend’ but Iduroti gave a meaning to that
saying in my life. She is a wonderful lady, I think I am really experiencing it
and I am really happy for the experience.
thing about Iduroti is that Iduroti was different. She
encouraged me to be better than I was when I came across her. Before I met Iduroti, I felt there was
something empty about me, when they say ‘behind every successful man is a
woman, I couldn’t comprehend’ but Iduroti gave a meaning to that
saying in my life. She is a wonderful lady, I think I am really experiencing it
and I am really happy for the experience.
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| Mumuni Abiola to Asabeafrika…’I want to be like dad but not in the area of harem building’ |
Does she cook your favorite meal?
Of course
she makes egusi soup and that is the best meal for me, egusi
with white rice. My wife is a good cook and I am very pleased with her.
she makes egusi soup and that is the best meal for me, egusi
with white rice. My wife is a good cook and I am very pleased with her.
Do you intend marrying a second wife?
No intention
to do that. Like I told you earlier on, this is 2015 and I think there are so
many problems that one should tackle than the issue of building a harem. Then,
obviously, you know that the world is being over populated already and the
economic of the world is not strong enough to solve the problem of over
population, we are facing hard times and we need a population control strategy
and that starts with the family. The family is the first unit of the society
and what we do with the family will invariably affect society.
to do that. Like I told you earlier on, this is 2015 and I think there are so
many problems that one should tackle than the issue of building a harem. Then,
obviously, you know that the world is being over populated already and the
economic of the world is not strong enough to solve the problem of over
population, we are facing hard times and we need a population control strategy
and that starts with the family. The family is the first unit of the society
and what we do with the family will invariably affect society.
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| Mumuni’s beauty, IDUROTI with Lovely kids, Omar & Jaza Abiola |
Between Vladimir Putin and Barrack
Obama who is your favorite world leader?
Obama who is your favorite world leader?
I will say
that I am very weary of the United
States; I am very weary of them because they are only about their interest.
And I think that is very disturbing, that they go into any environment and just
secure their own interest and dam whoever is in their way and I just think that
the world need a check and balance system
to that kind of audacity. We need somebody who is there to check them,
even Vladimir Putin himself, I don’t
think any of them is in my good book but at the same time we need that check; we
need somebody who can check the checker, they need to check the excesses of the
United States because one of the
evil of their excesses is the ISIS war, the Boko Haram and other resistant groups. These things don’t just
happen over night; they are reactions to earlier actions. Who created ISIS, how
did they come on board? Why are we not asking the real questions? If you say
you have no regards for the opinions and ideologies of others and you have to
bomb your way into other people’s spheres of influence, then you are bringing
back the old philosophy that says “Might is Right”, as long as you have the
bomb you can just do anything with it but what you don’t understand is that it
causes a chain reaction. You killed my father, I am the son and I want to retaliate.
I think the world should address these issues and my country Nigeria should
also be very careful of who they allow into their borders.
that I am very weary of the United
States; I am very weary of them because they are only about their interest.
And I think that is very disturbing, that they go into any environment and just
secure their own interest and dam whoever is in their way and I just think that
the world need a check and balance system
to that kind of audacity. We need somebody who is there to check them,
even Vladimir Putin himself, I don’t
think any of them is in my good book but at the same time we need that check; we
need somebody who can check the checker, they need to check the excesses of the
United States because one of the
evil of their excesses is the ISIS war, the Boko Haram and other resistant groups. These things don’t just
happen over night; they are reactions to earlier actions. Who created ISIS, how
did they come on board? Why are we not asking the real questions? If you say
you have no regards for the opinions and ideologies of others and you have to
bomb your way into other people’s spheres of influence, then you are bringing
back the old philosophy that says “Might is Right”, as long as you have the
bomb you can just do anything with it but what you don’t understand is that it
causes a chain reaction. You killed my father, I am the son and I want to retaliate.
I think the world should address these issues and my country Nigeria should
also be very careful of who they allow into their borders.
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| The GDA with Mumuni Abiola |
As a privileged youth, do you think
there is prospect for the Nigerian youth?
there is prospect for the Nigerian youth?
Well, I can
say I am privileged but I believe our youths are equally prospective if they
chose to do things that will uplift them. I believe what the youth need to do
is to look inward instead of getting out of school and say ‘I want to go look
for a job’ you need to start your own company. we need to get more people
starting up their own enterprises and I am presently working on something that
will enable me to train some of our new graduates on how to start something new
and where to access funds to do their businesses and where they need to get
some information on what to do or how to go about it, they can just send it
through a portal where we discuss with them and give them help or necessary
support. We are working on it right now, trying very hard to tap into what I
call the creative economy. There are so many creative
people walking around the streets of Nigeria but no government wants to help
them galvanize their talents. We can help them realize their dreams. Even those
who are employed might want to have one thing doing by the side, we will teach
them how to do that and they can own their own business because there is a
market for everybody. So, the young people should just be a little bit patient
and trust that President Muhammad Buhari
and the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo
are moving in the right track as regard youth empowerment.
say I am privileged but I believe our youths are equally prospective if they
chose to do things that will uplift them. I believe what the youth need to do
is to look inward instead of getting out of school and say ‘I want to go look
for a job’ you need to start your own company. we need to get more people
starting up their own enterprises and I am presently working on something that
will enable me to train some of our new graduates on how to start something new
and where to access funds to do their businesses and where they need to get
some information on what to do or how to go about it, they can just send it
through a portal where we discuss with them and give them help or necessary
support. We are working on it right now, trying very hard to tap into what I
call the creative economy. There are so many creative
people walking around the streets of Nigeria but no government wants to help
them galvanize their talents. We can help them realize their dreams. Even those
who are employed might want to have one thing doing by the side, we will teach
them how to do that and they can own their own business because there is a
market for everybody. So, the young people should just be a little bit patient
and trust that President Muhammad Buhari
and the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo
are moving in the right track as regard youth empowerment.
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| Jaza & Omar Abiola @ Study |
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| Iduroti, Omar & Jaza Abiola |
On a last note say a word to people
who love your father MKO Abiola and your mother, Kudirat Abiola?
who love your father MKO Abiola and your mother, Kudirat Abiola?
I want to
say thank you very much for the support, we really appreciate it—Olorun a ma ke yin, Olorun a ma toju yin,
the same way you have shown us love, the same way they will show you love too.
And I just pray that God will restore peace and happiness to this country. I
pray for those in the Northern Part who are losing families and loved ones to
the Boko
Haram insurgency, may Almighty
Allah give them the fortitude to be strong again, I pray one day, soon, the
Chibok
Girls will be returned and the society will find peace. I pray Nigeria
will find peace and unity in all spheres.
say thank you very much for the support, we really appreciate it—Olorun a ma ke yin, Olorun a ma toju yin,
the same way you have shown us love, the same way they will show you love too.
And I just pray that God will restore peace and happiness to this country. I
pray for those in the Northern Part who are losing families and loved ones to
the Boko
Haram insurgency, may Almighty
Allah give them the fortitude to be strong again, I pray one day, soon, the
Chibok
Girls will be returned and the society will find peace. I pray Nigeria
will find peace and unity in all spheres.
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| Mumuni Abiola at the beginning of his return to Nigeria |
