MKO Abiola’s Challenger In 1993 Presidential Election, Bashir Tofa Is Dead

The death has been announced of the National Republican Convention (NRC) flagbearer in the 1993 Presidential election Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa in the early hours of Monday, 3 January 2022.

The demise of Tofa was confirmed by one of the deceaded’s relations, Alhaji Mohammad. “Alhaji Tofa died after being admitted in hospital for sometime.”

There had been widespread rumours of his death 48 hours ago which happened to be a false alarm.

Tofa and the Social Democratic Party’s Bashorun Moshood Abiola (MKO Abiola) were in keen contest for the Aso Rock seat but the result of the 12 June 1993 election was annulled by then military President, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.

The election was deemed the fairest election ever held in Nigeria with Abiola deemed by Nigerians to have overwhelmingly won in the polls.

One of the enduring memories of Tofa during the 1993 election campaign was the beautiful radio and television jingles produced for the National Republican Convention and performed by some of Nigeria’s best voiceover actors.

Izuchukwu Okosi

Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc. In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio. He worked there for 13 years until October 2017. Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch. He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations. Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line. Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.