My greatest regret is annulment of June 12 1993 presidential election, says Babangida

The Nigeria’s Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), has blamed himself for the annulment of the June 12 1993 presidential election, 32 years after the event, adding that he regretted the action which almost collapsed the country which was heading towards extinction.

Penpushing reports that Babangida made his lamentation known and confession on the annulment in his speech at the launch of his autobiography – “A Journey in Service”, held on Thursday in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The retired army general, however, owned up to responsibility for cancelling the exercise in which the late Moshood Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) won, having defeated the late Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC).

“I regret June 12. I accept full responsibility for the decisions taken and June 12 happened under my watch. Mistakes, missteps happened in quick successions’, Babangida emphasised

Penpushing further reports that it is recalled that Babangida, popularly called evil genius ordered the annulment of the poll days after stopping the National Electoral Commission (NEC)final collation of the results.

The Babangida’s junta annulment of the most freest and fairest election threw the country into a political impasse, forcing him(Babangida) to hand over to his hand-picked interim national government eight weeks later on August 26, 1993.

Penpushing also reports that thereafter, Babangida’s military ally, late General Sani Abacha whom he appointed the defence secretary of the interim government, staged a coup of his own and returned Nigeria to a full-blown military dictatorship on November 1, 1993.

The Former military ruler in same vein for the first time after over three decades publicly admitted that the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola won the June 12, 1993, presidential election, having met all constitutional requirements to be declared Nigeria’s president.

Penpushing reports that the book reviewer, former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Babangida acknowledged that Abiola, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, an annulment Babangida described as the most difficult decision of his life.

The former military dictator, however, said he was relieved that President Muhammadu Buhari during his administration posthumously honoured Abiola with the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), a title reserved for presidents.

Penpushing further reports that it is recalled that after the annulment Abiola was later arrested by the military government of General Sani Abacha after declaring himself president, and thereafter died in detention in 1998 under mysterious circumstances.

Meanwhile, it is recalled that before now the former military president had always prevaricated on the annulment, and always claimed that he annulled the popular election in the best interest of Nigeria.

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