Hafsat Abiola-Costello, daughter of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, has sharply rebuked former military ruler General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) following his recent admission that her father won the June 12, 1993, presidential election. In a statement issued on Friday, Abiola-Costello acknowledged the significance of Babangida’s confession but emphasized that it does little to erase the deep-seated pain and injustice endured by her family and the Nigerian people over the past three decades.
Babangida, who annulled the historic election widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest, made the revelation during the launch of his autobiography, A Journey in Service, in Abuja on Thursday, February 20. The 83-year-old former military president expressed regret over the annulment, admitting that MKO Abiola, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, had indeed secured victory against Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC). However, he attributed the decision to “forces” within the military, notably the late General Sani Abacha, sparking renewed debate over accountability for one of Nigeria’s most infamous political betrayals.
In her response, Abiola-Costello dismissed the confession as belated and insufficient. “Your confession on the June 12 election does not erase the injustice suffered by my family and Nigerians,” she said. “For decades, Nigerians have known the truth. This is not new to us. But it is important that history records it from those who played a role in that dark chapter.” She stressed that while Babangida’s admission might lay to rest lingering doubts about the election’s outcome, it cannot undo the turmoil that followed, including the imprisonment of her father and the assassination of her mother, Kudirat Abiola, during the pro-democracy struggle.
The June 12 election, held on June 12, 1993, saw MKO Abiola poised to become Nigeria’s first democratically elected president in a decade of military rule. Unofficial tallies indicated he won with 8.1 million votes to Tofa’s 5.8 million, meeting the constitutional requirement of one-third of votes in 28 states and the Federal Capital Territory. International observers hailed the process as transparent, raising hopes for a democratic transition. Yet, on June 23, 1993, Babangida annulled the results, citing “national interest,” plunging the nation into chaos and paving the way for years of political instability.
Abiola-Costello reflected on the broader significance of that day. “When anyone mentions June 12, my mind always goes to MKO and Kudi,” she said, referring to her parents. “But June 12’s staying power was because the vote that Nigerians expressed that day was a vote for a better future and for unity. It was about the promise of Nigeria would deliver for Nigerians.” She lamented the annulment as a “galvanizing statement” unjustly truncated, but expressed gratitude to her parents for their unwavering commitment to the people’s will, despite the personal risks.
The reaction from Abiola-Costello comes amid mixed responses to Babangida’s confession. While some, including her brother Abdulmumuni Abiola, view it as a step toward healing, others, like human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, have called for punishment rather than mere apologies. Sowore, speaking on Nigerian Info FM, argued that Babangida should face justice for derailing Nigeria’s democratic progress, even if “one day before his death.” Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a key figure in the pro-democracy movement, described the admission as “long overdue” but a necessary acknowledgment of Abiola’s sacrifice.
Babangida’s book launch, which doubled as a fundraiser for his presidential library, raised over N17 billion in three hours, drawing criticism from those who see it as a celebration of impunity. Dr. Joe Odumakin, president of the Centre for Change, accused Babangida of “Maradona-style double-speak,” questioning his attempt to shift blame to Abacha, a subordinate who could not have acted without his approval as Commander-in-Chief.
For Abiola-Costello, the confession stirs personal and national wounds. Her father was arrested in 1994 after declaring himself president and died in detention in 1998 under suspicious circumstances. Her mother, Kudirat, was assassinated in 1996 while advocating for his mandate. “I’m glad that General IBB’s admission that MKO won the election can now lay the matter to rest for those who doubted,” she said. “But I will be forever grateful to both MKO and Kudi for not allowing their fears for their personal safety to stand in the way of the people’s desire for a better Nigeria.”
As Nigeria marks over 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, the June 12 saga remains a defining moment in its history. Calls for declassifying official election records and ensuring accountability persist, with many arguing that Babangida’s words, while historic, must be matched by tangible steps toward justice and reconciliation.
