Nigeria’s Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (Rtd), has officially acknowledged the late Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, MKO, as the rightful winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
In his newly launched autobiography, A Journey in Service, Babangida also expressed appreciation to the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari for posthumously recognising Abiola as a former Head of State.
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This was revealed on Thursday in Abuja during Rtd General Ibrahim Babangida’s newly released autobiography, A Journey In Service, reviewed by former vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
Prof. Osinbajo stated that the book answered several questions about the annulled June 12 election in Nigeria.
He quoted the former military leader, who noted in the memoir that after examining the original collated figures from 110 polling booths nationwide, it was satisfactorily clear that MKO Abiola met the two main constitutional requirements for winning the 1993 presidential election.
“He also answers the question of whether Abiola actually won the June 12 election, and I quote him;
‘‘Although I am on record as having stated after the election that Abiola may not have won, upon deeper reflection and a closer examination of all available facts, particularly the detailed election results, which are published as an appendix to this book, there is no doubt that MKO Abiola won the June 12 election.
“Upon closer examination of the original collated figures from the 110 polling booths nationwide, it was clear that he met the two main constitutional requirements for winning the presidential election, majority votes and geographical spread, having secured 8,128,720 votes and the mandatory one-third of the votes in 28 states of the Federation, including Abuja.
” I am gratified that the Buhari administration finally recognised him as a former Head of State of Nigeria. “
The Former Vice President further revealed that the author, Rtd. General Babangida also touched other aspects of Nigeria’s history such as the eventual death of the acclaimed winner of the election and his wife, Kudirat Abiola.
Professor Osibanjo said; “the author addresses all these issues and, for the first time, provides full answers to these questions. For instance, he reveals who annulled the June 12 election, though I won’t disclose that here. You’ll have to buy the book to find out.”
“He lays out the facts, explains the reasons behind his actions, and acknowledges where he believes he was wrong.”
In 2018, former President Muhammadu Buhari declared June 12 as Democracy Day in honour of the 1993 election and its winner, M.K.O. Abiola.
Buhari also posthumously awarded Abiola the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), Nigeria’s highest national honour, recognising his contributions to democracy.
The recognition was seen as a historic move to correct past injustices and acknowledge Abiola’s mandate, which was annulled despite being widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest election.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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