Lekan Abiola, son of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, has revealed that former military president Ibrahim Babangida privately apologised to the Abiola family for annulling the June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely regarded as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history.
Speaking at a symposium held in Lagos on Thursday in honour of MKO Abiola, Lekan shared that the family received a personal apology from General Babangida years before his public admission. The event also featured discussions around the upcoming launch of a commemorative book titled “MKO Abiola: Symbol of Democracy.”
Lekan, while addressing journalists on the sidelines of the memorial gathering, said the former head of state had acknowledged the wrongful annulment in private. “We met with IBB after returning from the United States. He apologised to us directly. When he later spoke publicly to express regret and affirm that MKO won the election, he was essentially repeating what he had told us behind closed doors,” Lekan said.
He added that Babangida has consistently sent representatives to the family on June 12 each year, as a gesture of acknowledgment and solidarity.
Describing the public apology as “long overdue,” Lekan noted its significance. “When someone causes you harm in public and only apologises privately, it doesn’t offer full closure. So for IBB to now make that statement openly, that MKO won, helps end the debate for good,” he explained.
He also praised the release of the full election results, saying it has put lingering doubts to rest and validated the late Abiola’s victory in the eyes of Nigerians and the international community.
