Abiola’s son: IBB apologised over annulment of June 12 to our family in private

Lekan Abiola, one of the sons of the late MKO Abiola, says fomer military President Ibrahim Babangida apologised to the family for annulling the 1993 presidential election, believed to be won by his father

Lekan spoke in Lagos on Thursday, during the MKO Abiola memorial symposium and preparations for the launch of a  book, “MKO Abiola: Symbol of Democracy”.

Lekan said the family felt a sense of relief following Babangida’s public acknowledgement and apology.

“We returned from the United States of America, we have met IBB, and he has apologised privately to us,” he said.

“When he came out publicly to say that he was sorry for annulling the election and that MKO won the election, he did what he had done privately in public.

“Every year, he always sends someone to come and represent him here on the June 12 occasion.”

Lekan emphasised the symbolic significance of the public apology, describing it as long overdue.

“Before now, for the private apology, there was nothing we could do about that. It is as though someone punched you in public and said sorry in private,” he added.

He said Babangida’s public acknowledgement helped to dispel long-standing scepticism and disagreement about the validity of MKO Abiola’s electoral triumph.

“For him to come out publicly to admit that MKO did win the election, makes us feel at ease publicly,” he said.

“This is because some people are always saying: ‘Are we even sure he won the election?’

“But now, he (Babangida) has released the full results. Officially, it is now known that MKO won the election, and that is no longer a controversy.”