In a groundbreaking moment that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s political landscape, former Head of State Ibrahim Babangida has, for the first time in 32 years, acknowledged the truth behind the 1993 presidential election that Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola was indeed the legitimate winner of the historic vote.
The controversial revelation comes in Babangida’s highly anticipated memoir, ‘A Journey in Service: An Autobiography of Ibrahim Babangida,’ launched Thursday in Abuja, where the nation’s political elite gathered for an event that blended history with dramatic introspection.
The book, spanning 420 pages, delivers an unprecedented confession that has long been a subject of political speculation and public outcry. Babangida, known as the “evil genius” and “Maradona” for his political prowess, admits to having misled the nation about the results of the June 12, 1993, election.
In a candid reflection, Babangida writes: “Although I am on record to have stated after the election that Abiola may not have won the election, upon further reflection and closer examination of all available facts, particularly the detailed election results published as an appendix to this book, there was no doubt that MKO Abiola won the June 12 elections.”
This revelation solidifies what pro-democracy advocates and the Yoruba people of Nigeria have long argued: that Abiola was robbed of his rightful place as Nigeria’s president.
The admission also aligns with former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s long-standing statement that Abiola’s presidency was thwarted by nothing more than “bad belle” – a term in Nigerian slang meaning personal animosity.
Babangida’s public reckoning with the annulment of Abiola’s election result stands as a poignant moment in Nigeria’s political history. For decades, the June 12 election has been the crux of calls for justice and accountability, with the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and Afenifere powerful pro-democracy movements tirelessly demanding reparations for the injustice done to Abiola and the Yoruba people.
In 2018, then-President Muhammadu Buhari sought to rectify this historical wrong by moving Nigeria’s Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12, recognizing the spirit of Abiola’s election and the nation’s aspirations for true democratic governance.
The decision was seen as a landmark acknowledgment of the need to honor one of the most free and fair elections in Nigerian history.
The book launch, attended by an illustrious assembly of national and international figures, further underscored the gravity of Babangida’s revelations. Among the dignitaries present were former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan, Yakubu Gowon, and Abdulsalami Abubakar, as well as Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar and Namadi Sambo.
The current President, Bola Tinubu, alongside Vice President Kashim Shettima, also graced the event. Prominent business tycoons such as Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, and Folorunsho Alakija completed the star-studded guest list, highlighting the monumental significance of the occasion.
Babangida’s memoir is not just a personal reflection; it is a chapter of Nigerian history now revealed for all to see.
His admission offers a new lens through which to view Nigeria’s post-civil war political evolution, shedding light on the forces that shaped the country’s future. For many, the question of justice for MKO Abiola may have taken over three decades to be answered, but the truth, though delayed, has finally been acknowledged.
Whether this revelation leads to a broader reconciliation or further fuels demands for accountability remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the shadow of June 12, 1993, will continue to loom over Nigeria’s political narrative for years to come.
