Thirteen years after, former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), has for the umpteenth time, explained his role in the June 12, 1993 general elections, admitting that he cancelled, and did not annul the election adjudged to have been won by the late Chief M. K.O. Abiola.
Babangida said he was constrained to cancel the election, because of the prevailing circumstance of that time.
Speaking on British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) programme, Network Africa, monitored in Kaduna yesterday, Babangida also admitted that the June 12 presidential election was the freest, fairest and the best election ever held in the country�s political history.
According to him, “elections were held and those of you in the media adjudged them as the freest, fairest and most peaceful elections in the chequered political history of the nation.
“You admitted it and the entire world also confirmed it. There was no crisis, there was no rigging whatsoever. It was the best election ever held in the country. It was something we have never had in the country during democracy.
“But it was not annulled, it was rather cancelled. We gave the reasons. We told Nigerians that we cancelled the election because of the prevailing circumstances then.”
Babangida said, however, that cancellation of the June 12 presidential election will not stop him from aspiring to lead the nation again, since it is a legitimate and constitutional right.
He argued that his regime performed meritoriously in the development of the country and that he has tremendous experience to lead the nation again.
He said “my government performed meritoriously in the development of Nigeria, and I possess the leadership qualities to rule the nation again.
“Because Babangida has been there before; he has tremendous experience and knows what is needed to lead a nation like Nigeria.
“Insha Allahu, I have said so before, I have presidential ambition and I will definitely contest on the platform of my party.”
Though he failed to mention the name of the party, he said his presidential campaign machineries are already in place, hence his attention has been on the campaign.
“I’ve a political party and I hope to go on with my campaign on the plaform of the party. That’s the first thing. Right now, my attention is on this and there are so many of my supporters in the country,” he said.
Asked whether the indictment of his elder son, Mohammed, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), will not affect his presidential ambition, he said “it may interest you that my son went to EFCC out of his own volition, and he answered all the questions put to him to the best of his knowledge.”
He debunked speculations that the relationship between him and President Olusegun Obasanjo has not been cordial.
He said “people are entitled to their own opinion. I leave in a country where you will get about a million opinions on any matter. But my own understanding of the relationship between me and the president is that it has been very cordial. Don’t forget that we were in the Army together, and he was my senior. Up till now I have respect for him,” he said.
Sep222006