After 30 Years, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida Apologizes to MKO Abiola Family for June 12 Election Annulment, Son Confirms

General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) has apologised to the family of Moshood Abiola for annulling the presidential election he won on June 12, 1993, after years of silence on his role as former military President, including earlier this year when he punted the blame to others during his book launch, among them Sani Abacha.

Lekan, son of Abiola, confirmed the apology at the MKO Abiola Memorial Symposium and preparation for the launch of a book MKO Abiola Symbol of Democracy held in Lagos under the aegis of the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, (KIND).

He urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure the Federal Government pays all outstanding entitlements owed to his father as past administrations failed to do so.

Lekan said Babangida’s apology came as a relief to the family because it ended all controversies surrounding the winner of June 12.

His words: “We returned from the United States of America, we have met IBB and he has apologised privately to us.

“When he came out publicly to say that he was sorry for annulling the election and that MKO won the election, he did what he had done privately in public. Every year, he always sends someone to come and represent him here on the June 12 occasion.

“Before now, for the private apology, there was nothing we could do about that. It is as though someone punched you in public and said sorry in private. For him to come out publicly to admit that MKO did win the election, makes us feel at ease publicly.

“This is because some people are always saying: ‘Are we even sure he won the election?’ But now, he [Babangida] has released the full results. Officially, it is now known that MKO won the election, and that is no longer a controversy.”

Layo Adeniyi, author of MKO Abiola Symbol of Democracy, said: “The book is about 440 pages. I can tell you there is nothing you want to know about Abiola you won’t find there. And particularly the situation now in the country as far as security is concerned, and above it all, disunity.

“The book is all about Abiola. I trace his roots, background and business growth. I also talk about his beginning in politics, which started with the defunct National Convention of Nigerian Citizens, NCNC.

“And above it all, he sojourned in the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, before the last dispensation. But the most important reason why I think it was very necessary to tell the story is that no election in Nigeria had ever been so free and fair.”

Family tells government to enact law to institutionalise June 12

The Abiola family has also urged the government to enact legislation that will permanently institutionalise June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria.

Family spokesman Hameen Abiola argued that legislation is the surest way to permanently immortalise and ensure that future generations do not abolish Democracy Day.

Hameen made the plea after the annual visit of Ogun government delegation to the family house in Oja-Agbo, Abeokuta, saying recent developments have made it important for the Federal Government and the National Assembly (NASS) to devise a way for younger generations to learn the values and sacrifices of the annulment of the election held on June 12, 1993.

“We appreciate the Federal Government of Nigeria for the honour done our father, he is not only our father, but a father of many Nigerians given the supreme sacrifice he had to pay for the democracy that we are all enjoying today,” he said.

“We thank former President Muhammadu Buhari for conferring on our father the award of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR. That is a great step in the right direction.

“However, it is our passionate appeal that the Federal Government to permanently enact a bill that will forever make June 12 Democracy Day, so that future generations who may not understand the roles that our father played in returning the country to democratic rule will not abolish June 12 as Democracy Day which is picked to celebrate our father, MKO Abiola.”