In a shocking admission, Nigeria’s former Head of State, retired General Ibrahim Babangida, has revealed that the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, also known as MKO, was the true winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
This bombshell confession is contained in Babangida’s newly launched memoir, “A Journey in Service: An Autobiography of Ibrahim Babangida,” which debuted in Abuja on Thursday.
The memoir is expected to shed light on various aspects of Babangida’s administration, including the annulment of the June 12 election and his involvement in military coups.
In the book, Babangida wrote: “Although I am on record to have stated after the election that Abiola may not have won the election, upon further 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.”
Babangida’s admission has lent credence to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s earlier statement that Abiola would have become president if not for “bad blood.”
The former Head of State also took responsibility for the annulment of the election, saying it was in “extreme national interest.”
The book launch was attended by several dignitaries, including former Presidents and Heads of State Goodluck Jonathan, Yakubu Gowon, and Abdulsalami Abubakar, as well as President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
However, former President Muhammadu Buhari was represented, while Obasanjo was noticeably absent.
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