Lekan Abiola, son of the late Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, revealed that former military president General Ibrahim Babangida privately apologized to the family for annulling the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
Speaking at the MKO Abiola Memorial Symposium in Lagos, Lekan stated that Babangida later made his apology public, acknowledging that Abiola won the election.
He described the apology as a relief, saying, “Before now, for the private apology, there was nothing we could do about that. It is as though someone punched you in public and said sorry in private.”
Babangida’s admission has helped settle doubts about the election’s outcome, as he also released the full results confirming Abiola’s victory.
The Abiola family urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure that all outstanding entitlements owed to Abiola are paid.
They also called for legislation to permanently institutionalize June 12 as Democracy Day, ensuring future generations understand its significance.
Hameen Abiola, another son of the late politician, emphasized the need for a law that would prevent future governments from abolishing the day. He said, “It is our passionate appeal that the Federal Government can permanently enact a bill that will forever make June 12 Democracy Day.”
At the 32nd anniversary of the June 12 election, human rights lawyer Femi Falana, OPC leader Gani Adams, and activist Joe Okei-Odumakin called for true federalism as the key to Nigeria’s development. They argued that restructuring would address governance issues and improve national stability.
Adams stated, “In honor of Abiola and other martyrs, I want to say that whether anybody likes it or not, this country will be restructured.” Okei-Odumakin reiterated her call for Abiola to be officially recognized as a past president, with his image displayed in government offices.
The pan-Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere stated that Nigeria is still suffering from the effects of the annulled election. The group’s leader, Oba Ladipo Olaitan, stressed that restructuring is necessary to correct past injustices and ensure true democracy.
He remarked, “Nigeria has not and will not appropriately recover from the ghosts of June 12, 1993, until a most holistic reconfiguration of the Nigerian polity is undertaken.”
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