IBB breaks silence, says Abiola won June 12 presidential election

…Babangida’s admission lays June 12 matter to rest – Abiola’s daughter

After over 32 years of silence following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, the former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) on Thursday finally admitted that Moshood Abiola won the Presidential Election, which was acclaimed to be the freest and fairest election in the Country, but was abruptly halted by the Military Government.

This revelation finally laid to rest the controversy over who won the election by the then Administration of Babangida.

It will be recalled that the election was declared inclusive by the Military Administration, necessitating the cancellation of the entire election results, even though the election was described as one of the most peaceful, credible, free and fair, in the history of Nigeria.

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The annulment threw the entire nation into one of the worst political crises, causing untold hardships, across the nation and claiming the lives of the major political actors, at that time.

Yemi Osinbajo, former Vice President and Reviewer of the book written by the former President, Babangida, said the former President, in his autobiography, entitled, ” A journey in Service” admitted in the book that Abiola won the election, having scored majority votes and secured a wider spread, winning 2/3 majority of the then 30-State Nigeria.

Babangida in the book, revealed that while MKO Abiola scored over eight million votes to his closest rival Bashir Tofa’s five million votes.

According to Osinbajo, Babangida noted in the book that even though he initially did not accept that Abiola won the election, upon a deeper reflection, it later became clear that Abiola won the election.

He also did not reveal, however, the reasons why the then Armed Force Ruling Council (AFRC), the highest decision making body in the Country then, opted to annul the election, but added that “all the details are contained in the book.”

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The Former military leader however stated in the book that “If I have the opportunity to do the same again, I will do things differently”, Osinbajo quoted IBB as saying in his book.

Reacting to the admission of IBB as regards the annulled 1993 Presidential Election, Hafsat Abiola-Costello, the daughter of both Moshood and Kudirat Abiola, hero and heroine of 1993 Poll, hailed Nigerians as winner of the 1993 Presidential Election, explaining that Abiola and his family were not only ones vindicated and won, but the whole Country and Nigerians did.

Abiola-Costello, who responded to questions put across to her by some journalists from Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital on Thursday about Babangida’s statement through a text message, said, “When anyone mentions June 12, my mind always goes to MKO and Kudi.

“But June 12’s staying power was because the vote that Nigerians expressed that day was a vote for a better future and for unity. MKO may have been the symbol of the Hope ‘93 campaign but June 12 was about more than one man, it was about the promise of Nigeria that would deliver for Nigerians.

“For those that kept expressing doubt that Nigerians had spoken so decisively on that day, I’m glad that General IBB’s admission that MKO won the election can now lay the matter to rest.

“It’s sad that such a galvanising statement as the breakthrough vote for MKO should have been truncated by an unjust annulment. But I will be forever grateful to both MKO and Kudi for not allowing their fears for their personal safety stand in the way of the people’s desire for a better Nigeria. May such commitment endure.”