Abiola’s Son Slams IBB Over Claims Abacha Annulled 1993 Election
Jamiu Abiola, son of the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, late Chief MKO Abiola, has taken a swipe at former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (retd.), over his recent claim that the late General Sani Abacha was responsible for annulling the historic poll.
The younger Abiola, who currently serves as Senior Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Linguistics and Foreign Affairs, described Babangida’s remarks as “tales by moonlight”, insisting that the former leader’s explanation lacked sincerity and depth, particularly coming decades after the incident.
Appearing on Channels Television, Jamiu questioned Babangida’s decision to only recently admit in his book A Journey in Service that MKO Abiola won the election.
He wondered why the former military ruler failed to intervene following Abacha’s death in 1997, especially when General Abdulsalami Abubakar took over power.
“If Abacha was truly the reason the election was annulled, why didn’t General Babangida reach out to Abdulsalami, his friend and kinsman from Niger State, and urge him to release my father or allow him access to proper medical care?” Jamiu queried.
He maintained that there was no genuine effort to save Abiola, even after Abacha’s demise, adding that his father might have survived if granted medical attention.
“The result Babangida announced in his book could have been made public when Abacha died. Instead, my father remained in prison and later died there. It was an opportunity wasted,” he said.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
