The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has reacted to former Military President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida’s (rtd) admission that the late Chief MKO Abiola was the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
Babangida made the revelation during the launch of his autobiography, ‘A Journey in Service’, on Thursday at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja.
In his remarks, Babangida described the annulment of the June 12 election as a “regrettable accident of history” and accepted full responsibility for the decisions made during his administration.
“That accident of history is most regrettable. The nation is entitled to expect my impression of regret. As a leader of the military administration, I accept full responsibility for all decisions taken under my watch,” Babangida stated.
Peter Obi, who attended the event, shared his reflections on his verified X account, highlighting key takeaways from the occasion.
“Today, I had the gracious honour of attending the launch of President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s long-awaited autobiography, A Journey in Service, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. IBB’s contributions to Nigeria’s economy and his strong support for entrepreneurship and private sector growth remain immeasurable. Under his leadership, Nigeria witnessed substantial growth, particularly in the financial sector. He played a key role in fostering a united and equitable Nigeria, and economic landscape, ensuring policies that strengthened national cohesion and economic development,” Obi wrote.
He praised the documentation of Babangida’s experiences, noting its value for future generations.
“Documenting such experiences is a welcome development, as it allows us to learn from those who have served and left a lasting impact on the nation. I look forward to reading this book, which undoubtedly holds valuable lessons. As someone committed to continuous learning, I will always align myself with knowledge drawn from documented experiences and historical records as well as contributing to the legacy library,” he added.
Obi highlighted two key points from the event, beginning with a quotation from the keynote speaker in French: *“Rien n’a changé”* (Nothing much has changed).
“The 1st is the keynote Speaker’s notable quotation in French, *‘Rien n’a changé’* meaning ‘Nothing much has changed.’ In the case of Nigeria, we are worse off than we were during IBB’s era. Using our contemporary peers as a benchmark, when IBB left office in 1992, countries like Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, and Ghana were all in the low Human Development Index (HDI) category—just like Nigeria. Today, however, these nations have advanced to medium and high HDI levels, while Nigeria remains in the low HDI category, having either stagnated or declined,” Obi noted.
He also referenced the keynote speaker’s comparison of Nigeria’s electoral system with Ghana’s, emphasizing the latter’s commitment to democratic principles.
“The Keynote speaker’s comment that Ghana has remained a truly democratic country for the past 30 years, with leadership transitions that reflect the genuine votes of the people. Unlike Nigeria, where electoral outcomes often fail to reflect the people’s will, Ghana has witnessed instances where ruling party candidates conceded defeat, respecting democracy in its truest form,” Obi stated.
Obi described Babangida’s acknowledgment of Abiola’s victory as a significant moment for Nigeria’s history.
“Lastly, one of the most profound moments of the event was IBB’s admission that Chief MKO Abiola won the June 12 election. This acknowledgement is a step toward national healing, unity, and progress of our nation. I hope that one day, other key players in Nigeria’s democracy will find the courage to recognize the true winners of past elections, allowing our nation to tell its story with honesty and reflection,” he added.
