Peter Obi reacts as IBB admits MKO Abiola won June 12, 1993, election

Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi has reacted to the public admission by former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (rtd.), that the late Chief MKO Abiola was the legitimate winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

Babangida made the historic confession during the launch of his autobiography, ‘A Journey in Service’, held on Thursday at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

The former military ruler, who annulled the 1993 election, acknowledged his role in the controversial decision, describing it as “an accident of history” and expressing regret over the consequences.

“That accident of history is most regrettable. The nation is entitled to expect my impression of regret. As a leader of the military administration, I accept full responsibility for all decisions taken under my watch,” IBB stated.

Peter Obi, who attended the event, took to his verified X (formerly Twitter) account to reflect on the significance of Babangida’s remarks, as well as the broader political and economic lessons drawn from the autobiography launch.

“Today, I had the gracious honor of attending the launch of President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s long-awaited autobiography, A Journey in Service, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja,” Obi wrote.

He praised IBB’s contributions to Nigeria’s economy, particularly in fostering private-sector growth and strengthening the financial sector during his tenure.

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“IBB’s contributions to Nigeria’s economy and his strong support for entrepreneurship and private sector growth remain immeasurable. Under his leadership, Nigeria witnessed substantial growth, particularly in the financial sector.

“He played a key role in fostering a united and equitable economic landscape, ensuring policies that strengthened national cohesion and development.”

Obi further commended Babangida’s decision to document his experiences, emphasizing the importance of historical records for future generations.

“Documenting such experiences is a welcome development, as it allows us to learn from those who have served and left a lasting impact on the nation. I look forward to reading this book, which undoubtedly holds valuable lessons. As someone committed to continuous learning, I will always align myself with knowledge drawn from documented experiences and historical records, as well as contribute to the legacy library.”

Obi highlighted two major lessons from the event, drawn from both the keynote address and IBB’s comments on the 1993 election.

Obi lamented that despite the economic policies introduced during Babangida’s tenure, Nigeria has failed to progress, particularly when compared to other developing nations.

“The Keynote Speaker notably quoted a French phrase, ‘Rien n’a changé’, meaning ‘Nothing much has changed’. In the case of Nigeria, we are even worse off than we were during IBB’s era.

“Using our contemporary peers as a benchmark, when IBB left office in 1992, countries like Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, and Ghana were all in the low Human Development Index (HDI) category—just like Nigeria. Today, however, these nations have advanced to medium and high HDI levels, while Nigeria remains stagnant or has even declined.”

Obi also reflected on the democratic strides made by Ghana over the past three decades, contrasting them with Nigeria’s struggle with electoral credibility.

“The keynote speaker pointed out that Ghana has remained a truly democratic country for the past 30 years, with leadership transitions that reflect the genuine votes of the people. Unlike Nigeria, where electoral outcomes often fail to reflect the people’s will, Ghana has witnessed instances where ruling party candidates have conceded defeat, respecting democracy in its truest form.”

Among the most significant moments of the event, Obi noted, was IBB’s public admission that Chief MKO Abiola was the legitimate winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

“This acknowledgement is a step toward national healing, unity, and progress. I hope that one day, other key players in Nigeria’s democracy will find the courage to recognize the true winners of past elections, allowing our nation to tell its story with honesty and reflection,” Obi concluded.