Shocking: IBB reveals Abiola won June 12 election, Dele Giwa’s assassination and others you should know
Photo credit: IBB
General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida has made some stark revelations about Nigeria’s history after thirty-two (32) years of stepping aside from active leadership in August 1993.
These histories came into light through a review of his autobiographical book entitled, ‘A Journey of Service: An Autobiography’ in Abuja today by the Vice-President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo.
In the 12th chapter of the book, Babangida dedicated it to talking about the June 12 election. Babangida finally freed himself from the guilt of the June 12 election by speaking his truth in the book and hoped to do things differently if given another opportunity.
But how can he access the opportunity again when time has flown over the horizon? This is after thirty-plus years of the event of the incident, but he’s opening up now that most of the persons involved are dead.
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According to Prof. Osibanjo, “He (Babangida) also answers the question whether Abiola won the June 12 election, and I quote him, ‘although I am on record to have stated after the election that Abiola may not have won the election, 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 was no doubt that MKO Abiola won the June 12 elections.”
Recall that in the election MKO Abiola contested under the banner of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) against Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC). While results being collated by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) show that Abiola is leading despite the undertone crisis that has often marked Nigerian elections, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida through the military ordered the nullification of the results by NEC under the Chairmanship of late Professor Humphrey Nwosu.
In the book, he also appreciated Former President Muhammadu Buhari for the greatest national title of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), conferred on Abiola, perhaps, Baba’s way of commending Buhari for helping to atone for his mistake.
Babangida’s autobiography also reveals why he changed his name from Badamosi to Babangida. Which he revealed is because many people assume that he is a Yoruba while he’s a Northerner.
On the late phenomenal journalist, Dele Giwa, Babangida opened up about his great encounter with the late journalist and with his bosom friend Vasta who died by a firing squad.
He also talked about the coup and the counter-coup that brought in the Gowon government and other military events that happened at that time. He equally wrote on the ECOMOG mission which helped to end the Liberia and Sierra Leone war.
Babangida bared a lot of information in his autobiography which should interest anyone with a flair for history. This book will also expose him to lots of criticisms, especially on the June 12 election where he said “If I have to do it all over again, I’d do it differently.”
