This is contained in a book, Ibrahim Babangida: The Military, Politics and Power in Nigeria, written by Dan Agbese, editor-in-chief of the defunct Newswatch magazine. According to the book, Babangida said he contributed to the campaign fund of the late business mogul.
Babangida, in an interview, told Agbese that he had wanted to make Abiola the chairman of the Transitional Council because he believed he (Abiola) “enjoyed tremendous political goodwill. His name was a household name. He had the international contact and Nigeria too had a very good chance of having someone like him heading that organisation.”
He, however, claimed that his colleagues on the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC), the country’s highest decision making body, opposed the choice of Abiola to head the council. Instead, they agreed to accept him as a member of the council.
The former military president said he offered to bring the late Abiola in as a member and ensure that the members of the Transitional Council elect him as chairman.
According to the book, the AFRC had decided that the chairman of the council should come from the South West. However, Abiola kicked against this and insisted that he should be announced as the leader. He was quoted as telling Babangida that his family wanted it because they feared that the president might change his mind once he made him just a member.
“Left to me, I wanted to make him the chairman. Then he decided and blew it.”
On the contest that led to the emergence of Abiola, Babangida said, the disqualification of 23 presidential aspirants led to the emergence of two candidates of two candidates- Abiola and Bashir Tofa- on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and National Republican Convention (NRC).
I cannot accept such offer. A man won an election clean clear you are asking him to come and head an interim govt, for what? you military guys can push him around abi? At least you people have satisfied yourselves at the expense on all Nigerians.
ReplyDeleteI cannot accept such offer. A man won an election clean clear you are asking him to come and head an interim govt, for what? you military guys can push him around abi? At least you people have satisfied yourselves at the expense on all Nigerians.
ReplyDeleteIBB do not bother he will head the govt when u two meet six feet below the EARTH SURFACE.
ReplyDeleteI dont know why people like IBB should still be walking free in this country and continue to insult our collective intelligence!. Can someone tell him to shut up and die in pains!
ReplyDeleteIBB you ve always been a wise man but people do not understand. You are such a gifted leader Nigeria refuse to understand. I respect you because, for being a man you are. We all know that many decisions taken during your admin. was not by you alone. We also know that many of Abiola's kinsmen opposed his being president of nigeria and worked to stop it, But today none of them is being accused like you, yet you still keep the secret. You receive the attack from nigerians alone. You do it perhaps if you open your mouth and reveal who and who from western nigeria who took part there will be trouble. It was unfortunate what took place. It was a lesson both for the victims and others. You sacrifice so much for this, it will be good you let the cat out of the bag, let's know who did what, and stop carrying the burden alone for posterity sake.
ReplyDeleteWell the did is done,there is no need crying over a split milk
ReplyDelete