Truth At Last: Babangida’s Confession Brings Closure – MKO Abiola’s Son Reacts

Lekan Abiola, son of the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, has revealed that former military leader General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.) offered an apology to the Abiola family over the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

He made this known during the MKO Abiola Memorial Symposium and the unveiling of the upcoming book titled “MKO Abiola: Symbol of Democracy”, organized in Lagos by the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND).

Lekan called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the Federal Government pays all outstanding entitlements owed to his late father.

Speaking to journalists at the event, Lekan said Babangida’s public apology had brought significant emotional relief to the family and helped lay to rest years of debate and speculation about the election’s outcome.

“In our meetings with IBB since returning from the U.S., he privately apologized for annulling the election. When he eventually did so publicly and admitted MKO truly won, it was a confirmation of what he had already told us behind closed doors. Every June 12, he now sends a representative to attend events in honour of MKO,” he said.

“Before this public apology, his private words felt insufficient—like being assaulted in public but only receiving a hushed apology later. Now that he has openly acknowledged the truth and released the election results, it offers us closure. No one can doubt MKO’s victory anymore—the facts are out, and the controversy is over.”