Late MKO Abiola Resurrects In Abuja As IBB, President Tinubu, Others Make ‘Historic’ Revelations

The June 12, 1993, presidential election and the winner it produced; late Chief MKO Abiola underwent a revival at a book launch event in Abuja on Thursday and these featured speeches centering on what happened, how it happened and the intrigues.

Late MKO Abiola, a businessman, publisher, and a politician, died in detention on July 7, 1998.

The presidential election was held and annulled on retired General Ibrahim Babangida’s watch.

The former Military President formally released his autobiography titled ‘A Journey in Service’ in Abuja on Thursday and he has explained his role in the annulment of the election in question .

Dignitaries at the book launch event include President Bola Tinubu, former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, former Heads of State Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalami Abubakar, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, among others.

While noting that the annulment was under consideration, Babangida said this was however carried out without getting the go-ahead from him.

He has put the blame on the doorstep of the then Chief of Defence Staff, late General Sani Abacha, who later became the Head of State after ousting Chief Ernest Shonekan, who headed the Interim National Government from power.

‘Go ahead with the elections. Go to your office, hold a world press conference and tell everyone the elections will be held tomorrow as planned’ retired General Babangida recalled telling the then chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), Professor Humphrey Nwosu.

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‘And then, on June 16, without my knowledge or prior approval, NEC Chairman, Professor Nwosu, announced the suspension of the June 12 election results ‘until further notice.

 I knew instantly that certain fifth columnists were at work and that there was a need for extra care! And even after that suspension of the announcements of results, ABN obtained another ‘strange’ court order from Justice Saleh’s court in Abuja, stopping the release of the results of the elections’ he  said.

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The former military president, who is popularly called ‘maradona’, added that he had left Abuja for Katsina to condole with the Yar’Adua family over the passing of their patriarch, Musa Yar’Adua, a former Minister of Lagos Affairs and father of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua on June 23, 1993, only to hear the news of the annulment of the election.

‘The funeral had taken place, and as I got ready to leave, a report filtered to me that the June 12 elections had been annulled.

Even more bizarre was the extent of the annulment because it terminated all court proceedings regarding the June 12 elections, repealed all the decrees governing the Transition and even suspended NEC!

Equally weird was the shabby way the statement was couched and made. Admiral (Augustus) Aikhomu’s press secretary, Nduka Irabor, had read out a terse, poorly worded statement from a scrap of paper, which bore neither the presidential seal nor the official letterhead of the government, annulling the June 12 presidential elections. I was alarmed and horrified’ he submitted while noting however that this was one of the options that were on the table.

 ‘Yes, during the stalemate that followed the termination of the results announcement, the possibility of annulment that could lead to fresh elections was loosely broached in passing. But annulment was only a component of a series of other options.

But to suddenly have an announcement made without my authority was, to put it mildly, alarming. I remember saying: ‘These nefarious ‘inside’ forces opposed to the elections have outflanked me!’ I would later find out that the ‘forces’ led by General Sani Abacha annulled the elections.

There and then, I knew I was caught between ‘a devil and the deep blue sea’!! From then on, the June 12 elections took on a painful twist for which, as I will show later, I regrettably take responsibility’ he added.

Giving his speech at the event, President Bola Tinubu  recalled what happened during the meeting Babangida held with the then Senators-elect and Reps-elect and the reception he got from the then Military President.

 Tinubu noted that during the meeting, he rose to condemn the delays in the inauguration of the National Assembly after the election of members of House of Representatives and the Senate.

‘One thing I will never forget: you were in office, and you acknowledged that we were elected, yet you kept postponing our inauguration.

Then you summoned us to Abuja. When we became restless, you called us to the International Conference Centre. I sat there, listening in my radical manner, convinced that you wouldn’t inaugurate us yet again.

Before we even returned to the hotel, it was locked—and no key!

Later, when Dele Cole invited me to make a remark, I confronted you. I told you that you had the opportunity to make history that day, but you failed to seize it. I asked, ‘Why not inaugurate us? Why are you calling us back and postponing it again?’

They thought I would end up in jail. But at the end of my remarks, you came forward, shook my hand, and I will never forget that moment’ he said.

President Tinubu also praised Babangida’s contribution to nation-building project while noting that he motivated him to join politics.

 ‘General Ibrahim Babangida, without you, people like me wouldn’t be in politics. You inspired some of us.

 Your progressive revolution — you said you wanted young, brilliant people in politics — back then in Dodan Barracks. You inspired some of us. And when we look at the programmes, many of us gathered here today for this library project can see the vision of a leader.

Thank you for who you are. As for the book, I haven’t read it yet, but I have taken my copy, and I will read it.

Without you, people like me wouldn’t be in politics. Your progressive revolution, your insistence on bringing young, brilliant minds into politics — you inspired us’ he said.

Former Head of State, retired General Yakubu Gowon also used the opportunity to thank Babangida for restoring his military rank.

Recall that Gowon was attending an OAU summit in Kampala on July 29 , 1975, when he was overthrown  and  after the  coup detat that claimed the life of his successor, General Muritala Muhammed in 1976, Gowon was declared wanted by the  government, stripped of his rank  and had his pension cut off.

His rank was not restored until 1987.

Retired General Babangida was the nation’s Military President between1985 and 1993.

‘I had a very rough time in government; I was even charged with treason. Later, President Shagari rescinded that order, and you (IBB) eventually restored my rank and honour. You did quite a lot for the country’ he said.

Also speaking at the event, former President Goodluck Jonathan praised Babangida for documenting his experiences in a book noting that this will enrich Nigeria’s historical records.

‘If you contribute to documenting history, it strengthens and makes it more relevant. So, today, you are helping us’ Jonathan said.

Former Head of State, retired General Abdulsalami Abubakar, also paid tribute to Babangida, describing him as a friend and brother.

‘My relationship with Ibrahim has lasted over 80 years. Ibrahim, I want to thank you again for your friendship and brotherhood. We often reminisce about our past adventures, which always bring smiles to our faces. May these smiles continue in our twilight years’ he said-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you