- Safiu Kehinde
Abdulmumuni Abiola, son of late Nigerian politician, Moshood Abiola, has reacted to the acknowledgment of his father’s victory at the June 12, 1993 Presidential election by former Military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.
NPO Reported that Babangida had, after 32 years, put his controversial annulment of the election to rest as he admitted that Abiola won the election.
The former Head of State, in a remorseful tone, made the admission during the launch of his autobiography on Thursday at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
Reacting during an interview on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Friday, Abdulmumuni described Babangida’s remorse over his action as an important moment to him.
While commending Babangida’s acknowledgement of his father’s victory, Abdulmumuni held that his remorse and wish to make a better decision if given another chance displayed IBB’s humanness.
He admitted that it is human to err but important to acknowledge when we make this mistakes and seek forgiveness.
“In the revelation that we heard from the former Head of State yesterday, there were two points for me.
“The first was the acknowledgment that my father, Abiola won the 1993 election. That for me I knew. I already knew my father had won the election even before they announced.
“The second part was more important for me, that is the acknowledgment that he felt remorse of the actions he had taken at the time and also his expression that if he had the opportunity to do it again, he will take a different path.
“I think it’s important we understand that we are human and it’s human to err. What we need to do is acknowledge when we make this mistakes and seek forgiveness.
“The fact that he expressed that remorse was more important to me.” Abdulmumuni said.
While lauding IBB for putting the age-old controversies that surrounded the election to rest, Abdulmumuni said June 12 struggle was more about Nigerians than Abiola.
He described Babangida’s confession as a healing moment to Nigerians.
“It’s good that he has put the matter to rest. Anybody that was on the fence to the fact that I know to be true all my life will now know that Abiola indeed won across Nigeria.
“We can talk about Abiola as the figurehead of the June 12 struggle, but what we need to understand is that is was Nigerians that gave him that mandate and were the ones who believed in his vision.
“This is also healing to Nigerians as well to hear the Head of States at the time say those words.” He added.