Own Up To Your Actions!’ – Abacha’s Family Confronts Babangida Over June 12 Saga

The family of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has issued a formal response to allegations made by former military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida in his recently published memoir, A Journey in Service.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Babangida claimed that Abacha was responsible for annulling the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was won by the late Chief Moshood Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

In a statement released on Sunday in Abuja, Mohammed Abacha, son of the late military leader, criticized the book, arguing that it fails to present an honest and objective account of historical events.

“As one public commentator rightly observed, honesty, sincerity, and integrity are not virtues commonly associated with the author,” Mohammed remarked.

He maintained that Babangida, as Nigeria’s military president at the time, held absolute power and must take full responsibility for the annulment.

The statement read:

“We have taken note of the recent claims made by former Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, in his newly launched book A Journey in Service, where he alleged that the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election was orchestrated by the late General Sani Abacha. These claims have ignited controversy and necessitate a direct response from the Abacha family in the interest of historical accuracy and justice.

“It is crucial to clarify that General Sani Abacha was neither the Head of State nor the Commander-in-Chief when the June 12 election was annulled. That decision was made during the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, who, as the then Head of State, exercised full executive authority and must be held solely accountable. Any attempt to shift blame onto General Sani Abacha, a senior officer in the regime, is a deliberate distortion of historical facts.”

Mohammed Abacha further condemned what he described as efforts to rewrite history, insisting that his father should not be scapegoated for decisions made under Babangida’s leadership.

“For years, various individuals have sought to rewrite the history of that crucial period in Nigeria’s democratic journey. However, the facts remain unchanged. Nigerians must be cautious of revisionist accounts designed to manipulate public perception for personal or political gain. The legacy of our late father and leader, General Sani Abacha, should not be tarnished by baseless allegations aimed at exonerating those truly responsible,” he stated.

The statement also highlighted that despite these allegations, Abacha remained loyal to Babangida, even ensuring his safety during moments of political turmoil.