General Sani Abacha Family Addresses Election Controversy

 

The family of the late General Sani Abacha has addressed assertions made by his predecessor, General Ibrahim Babangida, regarding the annulment of the June 12 Presidential Election, which was won by the late Chief MKO Abiola. In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, Mohammed Abacha expressed disappointment that Babangida's memoir, "A Journey in Service," failed to provide an accurate and objective account of historical events. He remarked, "As one public commentator aptly put it, honesty, sincerity, and integrity are virtues not commonly associated with the author." Mohammed emphasized that Babangida, as a "military president," held complete authority and should therefore be held accountable for the events that transpired during his tenure. 

The statement further clarifies, "We have noted the recent claims made by former Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, in his newly released book, ‘A Journey in Service,’ where he alleged that the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election was the responsibility of the late General Sani Abacha. These assertions have generated significant controversy and warrant a definitive response from the immediate family of General Sani Abacha and the entire Abacha clan to ensure historical accuracy and justice. It is crucial to assert unequivocally that General Sani Abacha was neither the Head of State nor the Commander-in-Chief at the time of the June 12 election's annulment. 

The decision to annul the election was made during General Ibrahim Babangida's administration, where he possessed absolute executive authority and was solely accountable for his government's actions. Any attempt to attribute this blame to General Sani Abacha, who was a senior military officer within the regime, constitutes a deliberate misrepresentation of historical facts.