Ibrahim Babangida and MKO Abiola

Former military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) today launched his long-awaited autobiography, titled “A Journey In Service”, at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. He seized the opportunity to say that the late MKO Abiola won the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which the Military leader annulled.

In the words of Babangida in the book: “Although I am on record to have stated after the election that Abiola may not have won the election, upon deeper reflection and a closer examination of all available facts, particularly the detailed election results, which are published as an appendix to this book, there was no doubt that MKO Abiola won the June 12 elections.”

The book

The reviewer, former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, disclosed that IBB admitted that the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, popularly known as MKO Abiola, won the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Osinbajo stated: “Babangida also answers the question whether Abiola won the June 12 election, and I quote him, ‘although I am on record to have stated after the election that Abiola may not have won the election, upon deeper reflection and a closer examination of all available facts, particularly the detailed election results, which are published as an appendix to this book, there was no doubt that MKO Abiola won the June 12 elections.”

The event is happening 32 years after IBB left office,  according to a statement from the board of trustees of the IBB Presidential Library Foundation, the book launch will be held alongside fundraising for a presidential library.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo chaired the occasion, while President Bola Tinubu was the special guest of honour.

The keynote address was delivered by the former President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, while former Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, reviewed the autobiography.

Other guests billed to attend include ex-presidents Muhammadu Buhari, Yakubu Gowon, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and Goodluck Jonathan. A former Minister of Defence, Theophilus Danjuma and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, are chief launchers.