Nigeria’s former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, revealed for the first time that the late philanthropist and democracy hero Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola won the presidential election on June 12, 1993, 32 years after he controversially annulled it.
In his memoir, the elderly ex-military chief stated that he would do things differently if he had to start over.
The stunning discovery was featured in Babangida’s 420-page memoir, ‘A Journey in Service: An Autobiography of Ibrahim Babangida,’ which was launched in Abuja on Thursday with continental and national leaders present.
Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo wrote in his book that the “evil genius” and “Maradona”, as Babangida was dubbed, answered the question of whether Abiola won the June 12 election or not.
“Although I am on record to have stated after the election that Abiola may not have won the election, upon further 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,” Babangida admitted in his book.
“Upon closer examination of the original collated figure from the 110 polling booths nationwide, it was clear that he satisfied the two main requirements for winning the presidential election – mainly majority votes and geographical spread – having obtained 8,128,720 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.”
During his address, Babangida, famously known as IBB, told the gathering that the annulment of the poll was in “extreme national interest.”
“As the leader of the military administration, I accept full responsibility for all decisions taken by me. And June 12 happened under my watch. Mistakes, oversights, and missteps happen in quick succession, but I say in my book, in all matters, we acted in extreme national interest so that Nigeria could survive,” he said.
Babangida’s admission supports former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s claim that if not for “bad belle” (Nigerian vernacular meaning bad blood), MKO Abiola would have become Nigeria’s President during the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
