The family of the late General Sani Abacha has strongly rejected claims by former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, that Abacha was responsible for the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
Babangida, in his newly released autobiography, ‘A Journey in Service’, admitted that the election was won by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, MKO Abiola. However, he described the annulment as an “accident of history” and blamed military officers, led by Abacha, who was then his Chief of Defence Staff, for the decision. He claimed the annulment happened “without his permission.”
Abacha’s Family Dismisses Babangida’s Claims
Reacting to Babangida’s statements, the Abacha family issued a response on Sunday, signed by his son, Mohammed Abacha. The statement dismissed Babangida’s claims and accused him of distorting historical facts to shift blame.
“The decision to annul the election was made under the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, who, as the then Head of State, held absolute executive powers and was solely responsible for the actions of his government,” the statement read.
They further insisted that Abacha, despite being a senior military officer at the time, was not the Commander-in-Chief and could not have been the one to annul the election.
“Any attempt to shift this blame onto General Sani Abacha is a deliberate distortion of historical facts. For years, various actors have attempted to rewrite the history of that critical period in Nigeria’s democratic evolution,” the statement continued.
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Warning Against Historical Distortion
The Abacha family also warned Nigerians to be cautious of what they called “revisionist narratives” that could manipulate public perception for political purposes.
“We urge Nigerians to be wary of revisionist narratives that seek to manipulate public perception for personal or political reasons. The memory of our late father and leader, General Sani Abacha, must not be tarnished by baseless accusations meant to absolve those who were truly responsible,” they said.
The family criticized Babangida’s autobiography, arguing that it failed to provide a truthful account of past events.
“We regret that ‘A Journey in Service’ missed the opportunity and failed to make history as a truthful and objective account of past events. As one public commentator aptly put it, honesty, sincerity, and integrity are virtues not commonly associated with the author,” they added.
Public Reactions and Unresolved Questions
Babangida’s account has reignited debate over the controversial annulment of Nigeria’s most credible election. Many Nigerians still question the true reasons behind the decision and who should bear full responsibility.
Some political analysts believe Babangida’s attempt to shift the blame suggests he is still struggling with the legacy of the annulment, which remains one of the darkest moments in Nigeria’s political history. Others argue that the Abacha family’s defense is an effort to protect the late general’s reputation, despite his own controversial rule.
With both sides presenting conflicting narratives, the question of who truly annulled the June 12 election remains a topic of debate in Nigeria’s history.