In a fiery rebuke to former military president Ibrahim Babangida, the family of late General Sani Abacha has firmly rejected claims that their patriarch was responsible for the controversial annulment of Nigeria’s June 12, 1993, presidential election. Mohammed Abacha, son of the late Head of State, issued a pointed statement on Sunday in Abuja, challenging assertions made in Babangida’s recently released memoir, “A Journey in Service.”
The controversy stems from Babangida’s attempt to shift responsibility for one of Nigeria’s most contentious political decisions – the cancellation of the 1993 presidential election widely believed to have been won by business mogul Chief MKO Abiola. This election, considered by many historians and political analysts as Nigeria’s freest and fairest poll, represented a pivotal moment in the country’s tumultuous journey toward democracy.
“It is important to state unequivocally that General Sani Abacha was neither the Head of State nor the Commander-in-Chief at the time the June 12 election was annulled,” Mohammed Abacha declared in his statement. 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 Abacha family’s response highlights the ongoing battle over historical narratives concerning Nigeria’s military era, a period that continues to shape the country’s political landscape more than three decades later. Mohammed Abacha characterized Babangida’s account as “a deliberate distortion of historical facts,” suggesting that the former military president was attempting to rewrite history to salvage his legacy.
The statement emphasized that General Abacha, though a senior military officer within the regime at the time, did not possess the authority to make such a momentous decision. Any attempt to shift this blame onto General Sani Abacha is a deliberate distortion of historical facts,” Mohammed insisted, adding that Nigerians should remain “wary of revisionist narratives that seek to manipulate public perception for personal or political reasons.
In a particularly telling criticism, Mohammed Abacha remarked that Babangida’s memoir “missed the opportunity and failed to make history as a truthful and objective account of past events,” before delivering a stinging personal assessment: “As one public commentator aptly put it, honesty, sincerity, and integrity are virtues not commonly associated with the author.”
The response from the Abacha family comes at a time when Nigeria continues to grapple with the legacies of its military rulers. While subsequent civilian governments have made efforts to address historical injustices – including former President Muhammadu Buhari’s recognition of June 12 as Democracy Day in 2018 – the period remains controversial and divisive in national discourse.
Despite the sharp criticism, the Abacha family maintained that their patriarch remained loyal to Babangida until his death in 1998. “General Sani Abacha remained a true and loyal friend to General Ibrahim Babangida up to the time of his death. He was a man of unwavering commitment to his comrades,” the statement noted. Mohammed also claimed that when Babangida’s life was allegedly threatened, “it was General Abacha who came to his rescue, ensuring his safety.
The June 12 annulment represents one of the most consequential political decisions in Nigeria’s modern history. The cancellation of the election results triggered widespread civil unrest, international condemnation, and a prolonged political crisis that eventually led to Babangida’s resignation and the establishment of an Interim National Government led by Ernest Shonekan. This government was later overthrown by General Abacha himself in November 1993.
Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled election, later declared himself president and was subsequently imprisoned. He died in custody in 1998, shortly after General Abacha’s own sudden death, without ever having the opportunity to claim his mandate.
The dispute between the Abacha family and Babangida underscores the complex web of relationships, loyalties, and power dynamics that characterized Nigeria’s military regimes. While Babangida, often referred to as “IBB” or “Maradona” for his political maneuvering, has consistently faced criticism for the June 12 annulment, his apparent attempt to redirect blame has now reignited historical debates.
The Abacha family expressed gratitude to Nigerians who have “risen in defense of General Sani Abacha in an effort to set the record straight,” acknowledging “the outpouring of support from those who refuse to allow history to be distorted.”
As Nigeria continues its democratic journey, the controversies surrounding its military past remain unresolved. The competing narratives of former military leaders and their families highlight the challenges of establishing a consensual historical record in a nation where the past continues to shape present political realities.
For many Nigerians, particularly those who participated in pro-democracy movements of the 1990s, the June 12 annulment remains a painful reminder of thwarted democratic aspirations. While subsequent civilian administrations have sought to heal these historical wounds, the recent exchange between the Abacha family and Babangida demonstrates that Nigeria’s military era continues to cast a long shadow over its democratic present.
