Kola Abiola, the first son of the late MKO Abiola, has stated that the former military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB), never apologised to his family for annulling the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
He said the Abiola family had not received any formal apology from Babangida after 32 years.
Naijaonpoint earlier reported that Lekan Abiola, one of MKO’s sons, stated that IBB had apologised to the family.
He said, “Ever since we returned from the United States, we have met with IBB, and he apologised to us privately. When he later came out publicly to say he was sorry for annulling the election and acknowledged that MKO won, he simply repeated in public what he had said privately. Every year, he sends someone to represent him at the June 12 events.”
However, speaking on Arise News, Kola said the refusal to identify all those involved in the annulment was a disservice to Abiola’s legacy, who “paid the supreme sacrifice.”
Kola also dismissed claims by his brother, Lekan, that the former military ruler privately apologised to the family.
He challenged Babangida to emulate former President Muhammadu Buhari, who publicly apologized for the annulment.
Kola said, “President Buhari went public and apologised to the family, the voters, and the country.
“That is how it is done, not privately. I’m not aware of such an apology. Maybe to him. This is not a personal thing. It is a national thing.”