June 12 annulment: Ex-Military dictator, apologized to us privately – Lekan Abiola

One of the late Moshood Abiola’s son Lekan Abiola has revealed that the former Military dictator, General Ibrahim Badamasi, retd has apologized to the family of Moshood Abiola over the annulment of June 12, 1993 election presidential election which his father won.

The young Abiola stated this at the MKO Abiola Memorial Symposium in Lagos.

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The symposium was preparatory to a book titled: MKO Abiola: Symbol of Democracy”, to be held in Lagos.
Speaking to journalists ot the sidelines of the event on Thursday, Lekan said Babangida’s apology brought a sense of relief to the family.

“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.”

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He also emphasised the symbolic significance of the public apology, describing it as long overdue.

“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.”

He added that Babangida’s public admission helped to clarify the legitimacy of MKO Abiola’s electoral victory, putting to rest longstanding doubts and controversy.

“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.”

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