Babangida and Abiola
Former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, IBB, has admitted that the late Chief Moshood Abiola won the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
Abiola was the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP.
Babangida annulled the election under controversial circumstances before the winner was announced. Thereafter , he ‘stepped aside’ and handed over the government to an interim national government headed by the late Chief Ernest Shonekan.
He has not publicly admitted that Abiola won the election despite pressures to do so.
However, 32 years after, IBB chose the occasion of the presentation of his autobiography, titled: ‘A Journey in Service”, in Abuja on Thursday to confess that Abiola was the winner of that election.
IBB’s admission was revealed by the book reviewer and former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, while reviewing the book in the presence of dignitaries at the event, including President Bola Tinubu.
Osinbajo said Babangida admitted in the book that the late Abiola scored the highest votes in the election across the geographical spread of the country.
“There was no doubt in my mind; MKO Abiola won the election. He satisfied all the requirements,” IBB was quoted to have written in the book
Osinbajo also said IBB commended former President Muhammadu Buhari for acknowledging and honouring Abiola with the national presidential title of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR.
