I spent Kudirat Abiola’s last 24 hours with her before assassination — Oloyede

Professor Ishaq Oloyede, former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has shared a poignant personal account of spending the final 24 hours with Kudirat Abiola, wife of the late Chief Moshood Abiola, shortly before her assassination in 1996. Oloyede recounted this experience during a recent interview, explaining his reluctance to document his extensive public service in a memoir.

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Recently I was at an interview and I narrated how I had to be with late Kudirat Abiola of blessed memory. How I had to be with her in her last 24 hours, 24 hours before she was killed. I was narrating the experience of our… about 24 hours we were together before the unfortunate assassination of Kudirat Abiola. May God bless her soul.

Oloyede expressed that many of his experiences involve sensitive events that could cause distress or controversy if brought to light. He specifically recalled being with Kudirat Abiola in her last hours, a period he described as deeply impactful. "I was narrating the experience of our… about 24 hours we were together before the unfortunate assassination of Kudirat Abiola," he said, adding, "May God bless her soul."

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There are so many things that I know, and many people know, that it is better you do not go back to.

The former JAMB boss believes that some experiences are best left undocumented to avoid reopening old wounds or creating unnecessary societal conflict. He stated, "Unless one wants to either create confusion in the society, create more enemies for the society or cause trouble, there are many things you come to know that you better die with." Oloyede respects those who write autobiographies but feels his nature would compel him to reveal everything, some of which might be detrimental.

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Unless one wants to either create confusion in the society, create more enemies for the society or cause trouble, there are many things you come to know that you better die with.

Kudirat Abiola became a leading voice in the struggle for democracy following her husband's detention after the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election. Her assassination in Lagos on June 4, 1996, while campaigning for her husband's release and the restoration of democratic rule, remains a significant event in Nigeria's pro-democracy movement. Oloyede's reflection underscores the personal toll and the enduring impact of that era.

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I believe very strongly that those who write their autobiography, I respect them because they know what to write and what not to write. But by my own nature, if I must say it, I would say everything. And some of the everything may not be good. For now, I do not intend to put up any write-up or give a narration of what happened.