IBB’s Public Apology To The Abiola Family Brings Closure To a Wound That Shaped Nigerian Democracy”
More than three decades after one of the most controversial political decisions in Nigeria’s history, the family of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola — widely believed to have won the historic June 12, 1993 presidential election — is finally breathing a sigh of relief. And that peace, according to Lekan Abiola, one of MKO’s sons, has come from an unlikely source: a public admission and apology by former military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB).
The Ghost of June 12: A Wound That Never Fully Healed
For many Nigerians, June 12 isn’t just a date — it’s a symbol of hope, betrayal, and resistance.
The 1993 presidential election was the freest and fairest ever conducted in Nigeria, according to both local and international observers. It was a rare moment of national unity, with Chief MKO Abiola believed to have won across ethnic and religious lines.
But what followed shocked the nation. Just as Nigerians were preparing to embrace a new democratic dawn, the then military Head of State, General Babangida, nullified the results and plunged the country into political chaos.
That single decision stained Nigeria’s democratic journey, sparking protests, civil unrest, and a painful democratic delay that cost many their lives — including MKO himself, who died under suspicious circumstances in detention in 1998.
A Private Apology Isn’t Enough — But a Public One Helps
Speaking at the MKO Abiola Memorial Symposium in Lagos, Lekan Abiola shared that IBB had previously apologized to the family in private. But while that gesture was appreciated, it didn’t quite carry the weight the situation deserved.
“It felt like being punched in public and receiving a quiet ‘sorry’ behind closed doors,” Lekan noted candidly.
It wasn’t until IBB publicly acknowledged that MKO Abiola indeed won the election, and expressed remorse for his actions, that the Abiola family found what they described as genuine relief and a measure of closure.
“Now that IBB has released the full results, it is officially acknowledged — there’s no more controversy.”
Why This Public Admission Matters
In a political landscape often defined by denials, half-truths, and revisionist history, Babangida’s admission is both symbolic and deeply consequential. It validates the truth that Nigerians — especially those who fought, bled, and died for democracy — already knew.
For years, conspiracy theories and political spin created just enough doubt in the public narrative to blur the truth of June 12. By finally affirming that Abiola won — and admitting his role in suppressing that victory — Babangida has, in a way, reopened the national conversation around accountability, truth, and healing.
A Call for Justice Beyond Words
While the family welcomes the apology, Lekan Abiola made another pointed appeal: he called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the Federal Government settles all outstanding entitlements owed to MKO Abiola.
This isn’t just about compensation — it’s about restorative justice. It’s about Nigeria recognizing, with action and not just words, that a grave wrong was done to a man who gave everything — including his life — in service of the nation’s democratic future.
Conclusion: The Power of Truth, Even After Decades
In many ways, Babangida’s public apology is late — heartbreakingly so. But in a country where impunity is often rewarded with silence, this rare moment of truth offers a chance for national reflection.
It reminds us that truth still matters, and that reconciliation can only happen when honesty is placed above ego.
June 12 will always remain etched in the heart of Nigeria’s democratic memory. But perhaps now, the wound can begin to scar over — not because time has passed, but because the truth has finally been spoken aloud.