IBB: Powerful Forces Would Have Eliminated Abiola if He Became President

Former military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB), has claimed that MKO Abiola would have been “destroyed” by forces pretending to be his allies if he had been declared the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Speaking at the launch of "A Journey in Service" in Abuja, Babangida reflected on the powerful forces that prevented Abiola from assuming office.

He admitted that annulling Abiola’s mandate was a subversion of the Nigerian people’s will, but he feared that Abiola’s assassination could have sparked another civil war.

In his words: “Unfortunately, the forces gathered against him after the June 12 elections were so formidable that I was convinced that if he became President, he would be quickly eliminated by the same forces who pretended to be his friends.”

“While I accept that the unfortunate denial of his mandate amounted to a subversion of the will of the Nigerian people, I was petrified that if Abiola got killed, it could lead to a civil war.”

Babangida, who fought in Nigeria’s 1967-1970 civil war, stressed that he was not willing to witness another national conflict.

He also expressed gratitude to the Buhari administration for recognizing Abiola as a former Head of State.

For the first time, IBB publicly affirmed Abiola’s victory in the 1993 election and reflected on the regrettable events that led to its annulment.