A former head of the Association for Better Nigeria, Abimbola Davis, is dead.
The association, led by the late Arthur Nzeribe, set the stage for the decision of the military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida, to annul the June 12, 1993, presidential election won by Chief MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party despite being adjudged as the freest and fairest election in Nigeria’s history.
The ABN, on June 10, 1993, two days before the poll, won an order from the Abuja High Court of Justice Bassey Ikpeme prohibiting the electoral commission from conducting the election.
Davis, a prominent Ibadan-based golfer, died on Friday in his apartment in the Jericho neighborhood of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Confirming his death to our reporter, the dead elder brother, Mr. Azeez Olalekan, better known as Energy, said the news of the Ibadan-based golfer came as a shock, adding that he was still up to his feet on Tuesday after he attended the Ibadan Golf Club to have fun.
He maintained that Davis died after developing a medical issue.
“The news of Davis came to us a shock. This is someone that still had fun with some of his friends on Tuesday after visiting the Ibadan Golf Club.
“His children are abroad and would host an online conference with the family today to discuss his burial arrangements,” he added.
Another source who spoke on condition of anonymity also confirmed his death, saying, “He has been embalmed in an hospital in Ring Road, Ibadan.”
All efforts to have the newly elected President of Ibadan Golf Club, Seyi Alaba, comment on his passing were unsuccessful.
Davis, born on September 29, 1957, in Ibadan to the Adebiyi family of Agboole Onilu (Drummer’s Compound) in Itutaba, Ibadan.
He served as the Chairman/CEO of Capital 3 Limited, a strategic consulting firm focusing on retail market development.
Additionally, he chaired Books & Sports Limited, a company dedicated to film, documentary production, and entertainment.
In 2005, he chaired the Policy Commission on Solid Minerals, established by the Federal Government and the Nigeria Economic Summit Group during the Nigeria Economic Summit, NES 10, to strategize progress in Solid Minerals development in the country.
An enthusiastic golfer, Davis also held the position of President of the PoolPlayers Conference of Nigeria, an organization affiliated with the World Pool Players Association, promoting pool, snooker, and billiards.
In 2005, he facilitated Nigeria’s participation in the Olympic Games for pool, the year the sport was included in the Olympic program.
He was married to Olayinka Apeeti Motunrayo and had children. (Saturday PUNCH: Text, Excluding Headline)