June 12: Why Nigerians should forgive Babangida — Ozekhome

Civil Rights activist and constitutional lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, has urged Nigerians to forgive former military head of state, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida for annulling the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

He made the passionate appeal after Babangida admitted during his book launch on Thursday, February 20 that Chief MKO Abiola won the election.

Though, Babangida said forces beyond him was behind the cancellation.

In a statement titled, “Babangida’s confession and atonement: quo vadis,” Ozekhome urged Nigerians to embrace forgiveness and national unity.

He said, “I have carefully read and listened to former Nigerian military president, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida’s public remorse and regrets over the atrocious annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections. He did this 32 whopping years later.

“I want to very quickly say that it takes a man with strong guts and balls and a man who has become repentant, born again and has seen the face of God to publicly recant his earlier wrongful deeds and offer public apology to the entire nation. This was no doubt meant to heal the wounds and balm wounded and bruised hearts.”

The June 12 election, was widely adjudged as Nigeria’s most credible poll.

Its annulment stirred nationwide unrest, protests, and violence, which forced Babangida to resign, leading to the establishment of Ernest Shonekan’s Interim Government, and the arrest of Abiola, who later died in detention under controversial circumstances.

Ozekhome noted Babangida’s decades-long reluctance to fully admit responsibility, saying, “For years, IBB prevaricated on the annulment, claiming he did it in the best national interest.”

However, during the presentation of his memoir, “A Journey In Service,” on February 21, 2025, Babangida publicly expressed regret, “I regret June 12. I accept full responsibility for the decisions taken, and June 12 happened under my watch. Mistakes, missteps happened in quick succession. That accident of history is most regrettable. The nation is entitled to expect my expression of regret.”

In a historic admission, Babangida confirmed for the first time that Abiola had won the election decisively, defeating his opponent, Alhaji Bashir Tofa.

Speaking further in the statement, Ozekhome hailed Babangida’s courage, saying, “I want to salute Babangida for having the courage and humility to own up like a man; that everything that happened during the June 12 crisis took place under him as the head of state and the president who was also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Despite the annulment, Ozekhome acknowledged Babangida’s contributions to Nigeria’s development, particularly in establishing the Federal Capital Territory and appointing intellectuals to key government positions.

While reflecting on his personal experience, Ozekhome shared, “I personally have now forgiven him because I was also a victim of the June 12 crisis. It threw up all manners of challenges to me as a person, where in my very youthful age; in my thirties, I found myself marching on the streets of Lagos every day…”

He recounted the struggles of that period, including detentions, surveillance, and financial hardship, but stressed the importance of forgiveness.

“It is confession that leads to penance and penance leads to restitution and then forgiveness. If Babangida were to die today, I believe that he will see the face of God because he has prayed God to forgive him; and he has prayed Nigerians to forgive him.”

Ozekhome added, “Nigerians, please, accept IBB’s confession and forgive him his sin of annulling the June 12, 1993 elections. Let the wounds heal; let the heart melt; and let the spirit of national triumphalism prevail”.

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