Former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) has affirmed that Basorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola won the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
The June 12 election has long been a subject of controversy, with various accounts of events presented by different parties. However, in his newly launched autobiography, “A Journey in Service,” Babangida stated that he was convinced of Abiola’s victory.
This revelation was highlighted by Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s immediate past Vice President, who reviewed the book at its launch in Abuja on Thursday.
Osinbajo quoted Babangida’s words: “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 available facts, particularly the detailed election results, which are published as an appendix to this book, there was no doubt that MKO Abiola won the June 12 elections.”
The former Vice President also noted that Babangida admitted he would have handled the June 12 election differently if given another chance.
Speaking after former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo reviewed the book, IBB took responsibility for cancelling the election, a two-horse race between Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC).
“I regret June 12. I accept full responsibility for the decisions taken and June 12 happened under my watch. Mistakes, missteps happened in quick successions,” he said.
Abiola, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, contested against Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC) in what is widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest election.
As results were being announced, the military regime ordered the National Electoral Commission (NEC), led by the late Professor Humphrey Nwosu, to halt the process.
In his book, Babangida expressed satisfaction that former President Muhammadu Buhari later acknowledged Abiola’s victory and honoured him with Nigeria’s highest national title, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).
In an interview, which he previously granted, IBB had defended annullment of the June 12 election.
While acknowledging it as the freest, fairest, and best election in Nigeria’s history, he said the country was not ready for democracy at the time.
“June 12 was accepted by Nigerians as the best of elections in Nigeria. It was free and fair. But unfortunately, we cancelled that election. I used the word unfortunately, for the first time. We were in government at the time and we knew the possible consequences of handing over to a democratic government. We did well that we wanted ours to be the last military coup deta’t. To be honest with you, the situation was not ripe to hand over at the time.
“Forget about the wrong things that happened in politics. The issue of security of the nation was a threat and we would have considered ourselves to have failed, if six months after handover, there was another coup. I went through coup deta’t and I survived it. We knew that there would be another coup deta’t. But not many people believed what we said. They could have allowed me to go away and then they (coup plotters) would regroup and stage another coup. This is how coups are staged – one man will always come to complain. And he will try to convince you about his complaints,” Babangida said.
He said security threats to democracy at the time led to plans for another election within six months of the June 12 annulment, but hostility over the cancellation prevented its success. According to him, the new election was set for November 1993.
He added that he was committed to holding another election, which resulted in the formation of an Interim National Government (ING), later overthrown in a coup by General Sani Abacha.
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