Abimbola Davis, a former chieftain of the Association for Better Nigeria, has died.
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 election, got an injunction from the Abuja High Court of Justice Bassey Ikpeme restraining the electoral commission from conducting the election.
Davis, a popular Ibadan-based golfer, died on Friday in his residence in the Jericho area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Confirming his death to The PUNCH correspondent, the deceased elder brother, Mr. Azeez Olalekan, popularly 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 visited 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 attempts to get the newly elected President, Ibadan Golf Club, Seyi Alaba, to speak on his death proved abortive.
Davis was born on September 29, 1957, in Ibadan into the family of Adebiyi of the Agboole Onilu (Drummer’s Compound) at Itutaba, Ibadan.
He was the Chairman/CEO of Capital 3 Limited, a strategic and business consulting firm with a focus on retail market development.
He was also the Chairman of Books & Sports Limited, a company with focus on film, documentary production and entertainment.
He served as the Chairman of the Policy Commission on Solid Minerals set up by the Federal Government and the Nigeria Economic Summit Group in 2005 to chat ways for the progress and development of Solid Minerals in the country during the Nigeria Economic Summit, NES 10.
Davis was an avid golfer and was also the President of the PoolPlayers Conference of Nigeria, a pool, snooker, and billiard game affiliated with the World Pool Players Association.
He signed Nigeria to participate in the game at the Olympic Games in 2005, the year the game (pool) was registered to be part of the Olympic Games.
He was married to Olayinka Apeeti Motunrayo with children.
