Lekan Abiola, one of the children of the late Moshood
Kashimawo, MKO, Abiola, winner of the annulled June 12, 1993, elections,
yesterday, disclosed that former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida
(retd), has apologised to the family for invalidating the polls.
Lekan said this at the MKO Abiola Memorial Symposium and
preparations for the launch of a book, ‘MKO Abiola Symbol of Democracy,’ held
in Lagos under the aegis of the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, KIND.
He also urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure the Federal
Government pays all outstanding entitlements owed to his father, saying past
administrations had failed to do so.
Addressing newsmen, the late politician’s son said the
public apology tendered by Babangida came as a relief to the family because it
ended all controversies surrounding the winner of June 12.
He said: “We returned from the United States of America, we
have met IBB and he has apologised privately to us. 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.
“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. For him to come out publicly to admit that MKO did win the
election, makes us feel at ease publicly. 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.”
Meanwhile, the author of the book, Dr. Layo Adeniyi, said:
“The book is about 440 pages. I can tell you there is nothing you want to know
about Abiola you won’t find there. And particularly the situation now in the
country as far as security is concerned, and above it all, disunity.
“The book is all about Abiola. I trace his roots, background
and business growth. I also talk about his beginning in politics, which started
with the defunct National Convention of Nigerian Citizens, NCNC. And above it
all, he sojourned in the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, before the last
dispensation. But the most important reason why I think it was very necessary
to tell the story is that no election in Nigeria had ever been so free and
fair.”
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