By Newsmata
Former military president, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, retired Army General, has spoken out at last, admitting what had been common knowledge – that the late presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, popularly called MKO, won the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
General Babangida however described the annulment of an election considered the freest and fairest election in Nigeria’s history, as the most difficult decision of his life.
Opening up for the first time on the controversial annulment at the launch of his autobiography, ‘A Journey in Service,’ on Thursday in Abuja, Babangida declared unequivocally that “There was no doubt in my mind; MKO Abiola won the election. He satisfied all the requirements”.
Babangida raked in nearly N17 billion at the unveiling of the book with donations coming in torrents from the business community. It was a show for the billionaires’ club with Aliko Dangote leading with the highest donation of N8 billion spread into four years at N2bn per year; Abdulsamad Rabiu, N5 billion, while Folorunsho Alakija and many others did not announce their donations.
Babangida, Nigeria’s first and only military President posited that while the annulment of the election remained a defining moment in his career, he took solace in the fact that former President Muhammadu Buhari posthumously honoured Abiola with the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic title, a recognition reserved for Nigerian presidents.
The book, which also documents critical moments in the country’s history, also gives insights into such national controversies as the 1976 coup attempt that led to the assassination of then Head of State, Murtala Muhammed, and the 1986 letter bomb saga that killed Dele Giwa, an investigative journalist and Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch magazine.
Thirty-two years after, Babangida, who regretted the annulment which he hinged on concerns over national security, admitted that if given another chance, he would have handled the situation differently.
According to him, “Undoubtedly credible, free and fair elections were held in June, on June 12, 1993. 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. 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.
“And June 12 happened under my watch, mistakes, oversights and missteps happened in quick succession, but I say in my book, in all matters, we acted in the supreme national interest so that Nigeria could survive”.
Reviewing the book at the well-attended event, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo quoted Babangida as saying that Abiola, who contested on the platform of the SDP, met all constitutional requirements, including securing the majority of votes and the necessary geographical spread, to be declared president.