Babangida Finally Admits Abiola Won June 12—Decades Later!
In a groundbreaking revelation, former Military President General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd) has openly confessed that the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola was the rightful winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, conducted during his tenure. The admission was made in his newly released autobiography titled A Journey In Service, launched on Thursday in Abuja.
The event, which drew significant attention, featured insights from the book provided by the distinguished former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. Osinbajo highlighted that Babangida, in his memoir, confirmed that Abiola, who ran on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), won the election decisively, both in terms of votes and geographical spread, making him the legitimate president.
The former president acknowledged that the annulment of the election was the most challenging decision of his life. Babangida went further to clarify his previous statements regarding the election, admitting that, after careful reconsideration of the available facts and election results—detailed as an appendix in the book—there was no doubt that MKO Abiola had won the June 12, 1993 election.
Despite this candid admission, Babangida expressed satisfaction that the current President, Muhammadu Buhari, had later officially recognized Abiola’s victory, posthumously honoring him with the highest national distinction, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), which is typically reserved for sitting presidents.
The launch event, held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, was presided over by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. It was also attended by a range of notable figures, including President Bola Tinubu, former Heads of State such as Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, and former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar and Namadi Sambo.
