February 23, (THEWILL) – A sad chapter in Nigeria’s march to democratic governance opened for more scrutiny on Thursday, February 20, 2025 when former military President, GeneraI Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (Retd.) publicly admitted that the late Chief Moshood Abiola, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was the winner of the Presidential Election held on June 12, 1993, but that he was forced by interests beyond his control to annul it.
General Babangida, also known as IBB, was Head of State from August 1985 to August 1993.
The annulment of the election was a watershed in Nigeria’s democratic history, precipitating a long drawn political crisis which snowballed through the succeeding regime of Gen Sani Abacha and culminated in the latter’s and Abiola’s deaths in 1998.
Babangida made the admission during the public presentation and launch of his autobiography entitled, ‘A Journey in Service: An Autobiography’, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo reviewed the book, while Chairman of the occasion, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who also chaired the event, delivered the keynote address.
In his address, IBB, said, “However, the tragic irony of history remains that the administration that devised a near-perfect electoral system and conducted those near-perfect elections could not complete the process. That accident of history is most regrettable.”
Speaking to the most controversial aspect of the book, the annulment of June 12 1993 presidential election, he said, “Although I am on record to have stated after the election that Abiola may not have won the election, upon deeper reflection and a closer examination of all the available facts, particularly the detailed election results…there was no doubt that MKO Abiola won the June 12 election.
“Upon closer examination of the original collated figures from the 110,000 polling booths nationwide, it was clear that he satisfied the two main constitutional requirements for winning the presidential elections, mainly majority votes and geographical spread, having obtained 8,128,720 votes against Tofa’s 5,848,247 votes and securing the mandatory one-third of the votes cast in 28 states of the federation, including Abuja.”
“Unfortunately, the forces gathered against him after the June 12 elections were so formidable that I was convinced that if he became President, he would be quickly eliminated by the same forces who pretended to be his friends,” he added.
“The nation is entitled to expect my impression of regret. As a leader of the military administration, I accept full responsibility for all decisions taken under my watch. Our nation’s march to democracy was interrupted, a fact that I deeply regret. But Nigeria and democracy is still alive, a testament to commitment.”
The former military Head of State also addressed a yet-to-be rested case involving the death of frontline journalist, Dele Giwa, killed by a parcel bomb during his regime. “The Giwa, like all mysterious murders, has remained unsolved after so many years. I keep hoping it will be uncovered in our lifetime or after us.”
Providing insights into the book, the reviewer, former VP Osinbajo, SAN, disclosed that Babangida admitted that annulling the June 12 election was one of the most difficult decisions of IBB’s career.
VP Osinajo added an irony of history when he recalled the role played by President Tinubu alongside other pro-democracy forces like the National Democratic Coalition for NADECO, for the revalidation of June 12 election results in favour of MKO.
He said, “When Babangida annulled the 1993 elections and Abacha took over, dissolving the Senate, that senator tried to reconstitute the Senate in resistance to the dissolution. He was detained, faced charges in court and escaped into exile. Today, he is also here to celebrate with his former tormentors as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Despite the controversial annulment, however, Babangida expressed satisfaction that former President Muhammadu Buhari posthumously recognised Abiola as the rightful winner of the election by bestowing upon him the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), Nigeria’s highest national honour, reserved exclusively for presidents.
To show that with his IBB’s public admission has opened a chapter in the national history, former President Obasanjo said Babangida should expect criticism from many quarters in the days ahead.
He said, “The book will be reviewed, read, quoted, praised and lambasted. Some will agree with you in part and some will disagree with you in part. some may even wholly disagree with you. Why should you write the book? It is self-glorification. They will say. Controversy may even develop. It’s all good for you and good for the book and our nation-building process, the more praised and condemned the book is, the better because it means that it is being read.” He urged the former Head of State to be ready to take every criticism with calm.
“Please don’t be unduly worried about critics and the put-him-down syndrome. It may even be an indication of success, but take note of objective criticism. You should expect a reaction galore. The reaction will be good, bad and ugly.”
Civil War Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, who wrote the foreward in the book had said something similar to Obasanjo’s warning, “Given the monumental and historical changes that General Babangida presided over, it is only natural that many Nigerians of different generations would be eager to learn first-hand the motivations and reasons behind these far-reaching decisions, events, some of which shook the nation to its very foundation,” Gowon wrote.
In his remarks, President Bola Tinubu said the former leader’s admission of Abiola’s victory will help to set the records properly. “I am glad about the revelation of June 12. My General, we will not forget to pray for you. I listened to you carefully. I am not here to read a speech. I am here to pay homage,” he said, adding: “Without you, people like me will not be in politics. I thank you for your progressive revolution.”
Even so, IBB’s relevance to the ongoing process of nation building was underscored by former president Goodluck Jonathan who said that despite being retired from active politics, the hilltop home of the former military Head of State was still a political Mecca to politicians in the country.
“Ibrahim Bagandiga, as we all know, is one of the most charismatic leaders in this country. He is somebody that people go to consult as if they are on a pilgrimage,” Jonathan said at the event which also doubled as the launch of Babangida’s presidential library.
“In terms of leadership, Nigerians know you have contributed significantly in terms of the infrastructure development of this country and social mobilisation. We cannot write the history of Nigeria without dedicating a reasonable part to your service as the president of Nigeria. You have done well!” Jonathan continued.
Like Obasanjo said, the book has started generating reactions. The Organising Secretary of the Pan-Yoruba social and political group, Afenifere, Kole Omololu, stated that “Babangida’s acknowledgement of the election’s credibility did not absolve him or his associates of the monumental and irreversible damage caused by the annulment.”
Abiola’s daughter, Hasfat Abiola-Costello, said, “For those who kept expressing doubt that Nigerians had spoken so decisively on that day, I am glad that General IBB’s admission that MKO Abiola won the election can now lay the matter to rest. It is sad that such a galvanising statement as the breakthrough vote for MKO should have been truncated by an unjust annulment.”
Various dignitaries and businessmen, such as the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote and the Chairman of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu, launched the book with N8bn and N5bn each. Dangote pledged to donate N2bn annually for four years for the construction of the IBB Presidential Library. Senator Sani Musa, representing Niger East Senatorial District, donated N250m; the Fidelity Bank leadership launched the book with N150m, Senate President Godswill Akpabio sent in N50 million and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas donated N20 million, while Businessman Arthur Eze donated N500m.
Other dignitaries at the occasion were General Abdulsalami Abubakar; as well as former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar and Namadi Sambo, immediate past President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, governors. Ex-Minister of Transportation, Jaji Sambo, represented former President Muhammadu Buhari and delivered a congratulatory message, expressing hope that Babangida would continue offering valuable counsel to Nigeria’s leadership.
