Hafsat Abiola-Costello, daughter of the late Chief MKO Abiola, has strongly asserted that former military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida’s recent admission that her father won the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election does not undo the injustice suffered by her family and the Nigerian people.
Babangida, for the first time, publicly expressed deep regret over the annulment of what is widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest election. Speaking at the launch of his autobiography, A Journey in Service, in Abuja on Thursday, the 83-year-old former leader acknowledged the political turmoil and democratic derailment caused by his government’s decision.
The election, intended to transition Nigeria from military to civilian rule, was abruptly annulled, sparking nationwide protests and plunging the nation into prolonged political instability. The recognized winner, Chief MKO Abiola, was subsequently imprisoned, while his wife, Kudirat Abiola, was assassinated in the heat of the struggle for democracy.
However, in a statement on Friday, Hafsat Abiola-Costello made it clear that Babangida’s confession, while significant, does little to heal the wounds inflicted on her family and the Nigerian people. She emphasized that the June 12 movement was never just about her father—it was about the collective hope of millions of Nigerians yearning for a better and more just nation.
“When anyone mentions June 12, my mind always goes to MKO and Kudi,” she stated. “But June 12’s staying power was because the vote that Nigerians expressed that day was a vote for a better future and unity. MKO may have been the symbol of the Hope ‘93 campaign, but June 12 was about more than one man—it was about the promise of Nigeria delivering for its people.”
Abiola-Costello noted that despite years of doubt and historical revisionism, Babangida’s admission has at least confirmed what Nigerians already knew—that MKO Abiola won the election decisively. However, she lamented that the hopes of a nation were crushed by an unjust annulment, one that robbed Nigerians of a leader they had overwhelmingly chosen.
“I am forever grateful to both MKO and Kudi for not allowing their fears for their personal safety to stand in the way of the people’s desire for a better Nigeria,” she said. “May such commitment endure.”
Babangida, in his memoir, sought to distance himself from full responsibility for the annulment, claiming that he was under immense pressure from powerful forces. He specifically pointed fingers at General Sani Abacha and some northern traditional rulers, who he alleged conspired to block a Yoruba man—MKO Abiola—from assuming power. According to Babangida, Abacha and his allies made it clear that allowing a civilian government at the time, particularly one led by Abiola, was out of the question.
Despite his confession, many Nigerians, including Abiola-Costello, believe that the scars of June 12 will not fade easily. The struggle for democracy came at a heavy price, and the injustices of the past cannot simply be erased by a belated acknowledgment of the truth.
PIONEER NEWS 