Key Points

• The Abacha family says Babangida is solely responsible for the June 12 annulment.
• They reject claims shifting the blame to the late Sani Abacha.
• The family thanks Nigerians who defended the truth about the annulment.

The family of the late Nigerian Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has fired back at former President Ibrahim Babangida, dismissing claims that Abacha was responsible for the annulment of the historic June 12, 1993, presidential election.

The election, which was widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest, was won by Chief Moshood Abiola but later annulled, causing nationwide outrage.

In a strongly worded statement on Sunday in Abuja, Mohammed Abacha, son of the late leader, criticized Babangida’s recent memoir, “A Journey in Service.”

He described the book as a missed opportunity to give an honest account of Nigeria’s history.

“One public commentator said it best: honesty, sincerity, and integrity are not exactly qualities you’d associate with the author,” Mohammed said.

Setting the record straight on June 12

According to a report by Vanguard, Mohammed Abacha made it clear that his father wasn’t the one calling the shots when the controversial decision to cancel the election was made.

He said Babangida, as the military president at the time, held full power and should take full responsibility.

“Let’s be clear: General Sani Abacha wasn’t the Head of State or Commander-in-Chief when the June 12 election was canceled,” Mohammed said.

“That decision was made by General Babangida himself. Any attempt to push that blame onto my father is just a way to twist history.”

The Abacha family believes Babangida’s claims are not only false but an unfair attempt to rewrite Nigeria’s past.

“For years, some people have tried to twist the truth about what happened during that period in Nigeria’s history. But facts are facts.

We urge Nigerians to be careful of any story designed to cover up the truth for personal or political reasons. Our father’s name should not be dragged into false accusations meant to clear others of their actions,” Mohammed added.

Remembering loyalty and defending legacy

Despite the current controversy, Mohammed pointed out that Abacha stood by Babangida till the very end.

He reminded Nigerians that Abacha once risked his life to protect Babangida during a period of political threat.

“My father was a loyal friend to Babangida and stood by him during dangerous times,” he said. “It is painful that the same person would now turn around and try to blame him for an action he didn’t take.”

The Abacha family also thanked Nigerians who have spoken up in defense of their late father, ensuring that the facts are not lost to history.

“We are grateful to Nigerians who have stood up to defend the truth. Your commitment to fairness and accuracy means the world to us,” Mohammed said.

“Our father’s role in Nigeria’s development is part of the nation’s history, just like the contributions of other leaders. We believe that history should be told with honesty and fairness.”

The family also criticized Babangida’s book, describing it as a missed opportunity to tell the truth.

“It’s sad that ‘A Journey in Service’ failed to offer an honest and objective account of past events. Like someone rightly said, honesty and integrity are not words often used to describe the author,” Mohammed concluded.

The family urged Nigerians to reflect on the country’s past with fairness and avoid letting personal or political interests distort the truth.