Late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha’s family has rejected claims by former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), that their late father was largely responsibile for the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election.
Scion of the Abacha clan, Mohammed, in a statement, yesterday, argued that Babangida, in his autobiography titled “A Journey in Service” missed the opportunity to make history by giving a truthful and objective account of what happened in the past.
In the statement, Mohammed said, “honesty, sincerity, and integrity” are virtues not commonly associated with Babangida, arguing that Abacha was neither the Head of State nor the Commander-in-Chief at the time the June 12 election was annulled.
The family asserted that the decision to annul the election was made under the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, who, as the then Head of State, held absolute executive powers and was solely responsible for the actions of his government.
They contended that the attempt to shift the blame to Abacha, who was a very senior military officer in the regime, was a deliberate distortion of historical facts.
The family urged Nigerians to be wary of revisionist narratives that sought to manipulate public perception for personal or political reasons.
“The memory of our late father and leader, General Sani Abacha must not be tarnished by baseless accusations meant to absolve those who were truly responsible.
“Furthermore, we wish to emphasise that despite this unfortunate attempt to shift blame, General Sani Abacha remained a true and loyal friend to General Ibrahim Babangida up to the time of his death. He was a man of unwavering commitment to his comrades.
“We also find it necessary to state that at the time General Babangida’s life was under threat, it was General Abacha who came to his rescue, ensuring his safety,” the family stated.
The statement added: “We take this opportunity to express our heartfelt appreciation to many Nigerians, who have risen in defence of General Sani Abacha to set the record straight. Your unwavering commitment to truth and historical accuracy is deeply appreciated, and we acknowledge the outpouring of support from those, who refuse to allow history to be distorted.
“As we reflect on Nigeria’s history, we acknowledge General Sani Abacha’s time in leadership and the role he played in the nation’s development. His contributions, like those of past leaders, remain part of our country’s history. We believe that history is best judged with fairness and objectivity.”
