The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has outrightly rejected former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida’s (IBB) attempt to shift blame for the June 12, 1993, election annulment onto the late General Sani Abacha.
IBB’s Controversial Claims in His Memoir
In his newly launched memoir, A Journey in Service, Babangida insisted that he had no prior knowledge of the annulment and that it was Abacha, his then Chief of Defense Staff, who led the opposition against the election.
Babangida described the annulment as an “accident of history” and expressed regret, claiming he was in Katsina when his second-in-command’s press secretary announced the decision without his approval.
He also stated that he had offered the winner, Chief MKO Abiola, an interim government role, but massive protests forced him to resign in August 1993, making way for Ernest Shonekan’s interim government, which was later overthrown by Abacha.
MURIC Fires Back: ‘IBB Is Responsible’
Reacting in a strongly worded statement, MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, dismissed Babangida’s claims as an attempt to rewrite history.
“We totally reject all attempts by IBB to exonerate himself from the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election fiasco. The former dictator should stop blaming others. The buck stops at IBB’s table.”
The group accused Babangida of being responsible for derailing Nigeria’s democratic progress, calling his book launch a “provocative and insensitive public show of impunity.”
IBB’s Legacy of Political Instability
MURIC further criticized Babangida for his role in overthrowing Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in 1985, which they described as Nigeria’s descent into darkness.
The statement highlighted several atrocities under Babangida and Abacha’s regimes, including the deaths of:
- Chief MKO Abiola (winner of the annulled election)
- Alhaja Kudirat Abiola (MKO’s wife)
- Alfred Rewane (pro-democracy activist)
- Justice Ikpeme and many other victims of military rule.
A Call for Justice and Remembrance
MURIC also paid tribute to heroes of democracy, including:
- Chief MKO Abiola & Alhaja Kudirat Abiola
- Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti
- Professor Wole Soyinka
- President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
- Shehu Sani & the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO)
The group warned that Nigeria cannot heal if past injustices are ignored, urging leaders to prioritize justice, unity, and true democracy.
Stay tuned to NIGPOST for more updates on this developing story.
Leave a Reply