June 12: Abacha faults Babangida’s account, blames him for annulment

Absolving their patriarch of any blame in the annulment, the family said in a statement  by Abacha’s first son,  Mohammed, the responsibility for that ugly event rests on the person who wielded ‘’absolute Executive powers and was solely responsible for the actions of his government.”

Tge statement slammed  Babangida’s account of the annulment, describing it as “a deliberate distortion of historical facts.”

Recall that Gen. Babangida in his recently launched memoir,  “A Journey in Service,” claimed that Gen. Abacha and his “force” in the military were responsible for the annulment of the poll adjudged globally as the freest and fairest presidential poll in Nigeria.

The Abacha family enjoined Nigerians ‘’to be wary of revisionist narratives,’’ and insisted that the name of their patriarch  ‘’must not be tarnished by baseless accusations meant to absolve those who were truly responsible’’ for the annulment of the election.

The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to recent claims made by former Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, in his newly launched book, “A Journey in Service”, where he alleged that the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election was the responsibility of the late Gen. Sani Abacha. ‘These claims have sparked widespread controversy and necessitate a clear response from the immediate family of Gen.Sani Abacha and the entire Abacha clan in the interest of historical accuracy and justice.

“It is important to state unequivocally that Gen. Sani Abacha was neither the Head of State nor the Commander-in-Chief at the time the June 12 election was annulled. The decision to annul the election was made under the administration of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, who, as the then Head of State, held absolute executive powers and was solely responsible for the actions of his government. Any attempt to shift this blame onto Gen. Sani Abacha, who was a very senior military officer within the regime, is a deliberate distortion of historical facts.

“For years, various actors have attempted to rewrite the history of that critical period in Nigeria’s democratic evolution. However, the facts remain unchanged.

‘’We urge Nigerians to be wary of revisionist narratives that seek to manipulate public perception for personal or political reasons.

‘’The memory of our late father and leader, Gen. Sani Abacha, must not be tarnished by baseless accusations meant to absolve those who were truly responsible.

“Furthermore, we wish to emphasise that despite this unfortunate attempt to shift blame, Gen.Sani Abacha remained a true and loyal friend to Gen. Ibrahim Babangida up to the time of his death. He was a man of unwavering commitment to his comrades.

‘’We also find it necessary to state that at the time Gen. Babangida’s life was under threat, it was Gen.Abacha who came to his rescue, ensuring his safety.

“We take this opportunity to express our heartfelt appreciation to the many Nigerians who have risen in defence of Gen.  Sani Abacha in an effort to set the record straight.

‘’Your unwavering commitment to truth and historical accuracy is deeply appreciated, and we acknowledge the outpouring of support from those who refuse to allow history to be distorted.

“As we reflect on Nigeria’s history, we acknowledge Gen.  Sani Abacha’s time in leadership and the role he played in the nation’s development. His contributions, like those of past leaders, remain part of our country’s history. We believe that history is best judged with fairness and objectivity.

“We regret that ‘A Journey in Service’ missed the opportunity and failed to make history as a truthful and objective account of past events. As one public commentator aptly put it, honesty, sincerity, and integrity are virtues not commonly associated with the author.”