- MKO Abiola Won Election, But We Acted In ‘Extreme National Interest’
- How IBB Failed To Make History- Tinubu
- IBB Raises N17.5bn For Presidential Library, Dangote, BUA Lead Donation
Thirty-two years after Nigeria’s former Head of State, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida popularly known as IBB annulled the June 12, 1993, Presidential Election widely adjudged as the freest and fairest election in Nigeria, IBB has finally admitted the late philanthropist and democracy hero Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola won the election.
This admission was contained in Babangida’s 420-page memoir titled, ‘A Journey in Service: An Autobiography of Ibrahim Babangida’ which was launched in Abuja on Thursday, February 20, 2025.
According to the book reviewer, former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Babangida acknowledged that Abiola, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, met all constitutional requirements to be declared Nigeria’s president.
“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.
“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 of one-third of the votes cast in 28 states of the Federation including Abuja” Babangida admitted in his book.
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Babangida further went on to reveal that he was in Katsina when the annulment of the election was announced by the Press Secretary of his second-in-command without his knowledge or permission.
He added that he later discovered that the forces against the June 12 election were led by Sani Abacha, his chief of defence staff (CDS), who later became military head of state.
While delivering his speech at the event, Babangida described the annulment of the election as an “accident of history” that is “most regrettable.”
The former military president said he accepted the full responsibility of the actions under his watch.
During his address, Babangida, also 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.
READ ALSO: Obasanjo Tells IBB To Expect Mixed Reactions To His Autobiography
Babangida expressed regret over the annulment of the poll which he said interrupted the return to democratic leadership.
“Our nation’s march to democracy was interrupted, a fact that I deeply regret. But Nigeria survived and democracy is still alive, a testament to our resilience and commitment to progress. This book is part of my personal story with national history,” Babangida added.
Meanwhile, no less than N17.5bn has been realized in dnations towards the building of a befitting Presidential Library in honour of IBB.
Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, on Thursday pledged to donate N8 billion for the actualisation of the presidential library.
Dangote disclosed that he will be supporting the project with N2 billion annually for a period of four years.
“Your Excellency, based on what I have observed, I believe this project will require at least four years to complete. I would like to contribute N2 billion each year for the next four years, amounting to N8 billion in total. Should the project extend beyond four years, I will continue to contribute N2 billion annually.”
Other prominent Nigerians who pledged donations to the library’s construction include Abdul Samad Rabiu, founder of BUA, who donated N5 billion.
Theophilus Danjuma, founder of the TY Danjuma Foundation, donated N3 billion; Godswill Akpabio, the senate president, donated N50 million; Arthur Eze pledged N500 million; and Mustafa Chike-Obi of Fidelity Bank donated N100 million
