One of the late MKO Abiola’s many kids, Lekan Abiola, has said that former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd), has apologised to the family for invalidating the result of the June 12 elections. Recall that MKO Abiola popularly won the June 12, 1993, election that was eventually annulled.
Speaking at the MKO Abiola Memorial Symposium and preparations for the launch of a book, “MKO Abiola Symbol of Democracy,” held in Lagos under the aegis of the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, KIND, Lekan said that the public apology tendered by Babangida came at the right time because it ended the controversies surrounding who actually won the June 12 polls.
Lekan emphasised that the constant doubt about the legitimacy of MKO Abiola’s win should cease to exist now that Babangida has announced the full results.
He urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure the Federal Government pays all outstanding entitlements owed to his father after past governments failed to do so.
“We returned from the United States of America, we have met IBB and he has apologised privately to us. When he came out publicly to say that he was sorry for annulling the election and that MKO won the election, he did what he had done privately in public. Every year, he always sends someone to come and represent him here on the June 12 occasion.
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. For him to come out publicly to admit that MKO did win the election, makes us feel at ease publicly. This is because some people are always saying: ‘Are we even sure he won the election?’ But now, he (Babangida) has released the full results. Officially, it is now known that MKO won the election, and that is no longer a controversy,” he said.
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On the book, Lekan said it contains details about everything MKO Abiola stood for when he was alive.
According to him, all the information about his father’s existence is in it, especially key facts about his roots, background and business growth.
He concluded by saying that no election in Nigeria has been as free and fair as the one MKO Abiola won.
“The book is about 440 pages. I can tell you there is nothing you want to know about Abiola you won’t find there. And particularly the situation now in the country as far as security is concerned, and above it all, disunity.
The book is all about Abiola. I trace his roots, background and business growth. I also talk about his beginning in politics, which started with the defunct National Convention of Nigerian Citizens, NCNC. And above it all, he sojourned in the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, before the last dispensation. But the most important reason why I think it was very necessary to tell the story is that no election in Nigeria had ever been so free and fair,” he added.
