Ibrahim Babangida (IBB)’s recent defence of his annulment of the June 12 1993 election has earned him a backlash from Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-cultural group.
The former military head of state had, on Arise TV on Friday said that he annulled the presidential election to avert a violent coup d’etat.
He added that it was most expedient to annul it to prevent instability and his move was the best option for the country.
According to him, “If it materialised (if the election had gone through), there would have been a coup d’etat which could have been violent. That’s all I can confirm.
“it didn’t happen, thank God for the Maradonic way we handled you guys in the society.
In his reaction, the Secretary-General of Afenifere, Sola Ebiseni described the excuse given by the former military president as an insult to the intelligence of Nigerians.
Ebiseni added that IBB lost the opportunity to be the hero of democracy and father of a new Nigeria by that singular act.
He described Babangida’s comment as a “sour taste in the mouth, noting that Nigerians are not interested in his unreasonable excuse.
He added that “Babangida has not said a new thing worthy of any reaction in respect of his treasonable acts of the annulment of the adjudged freest and fairest election in the country’s political history.
Chief MKO Abiola 
General Babangida and Chief MKO Abiola
“Nigerians are not interested in any excuse being given by IBB. It is even most preposterous that IBB will only now be insulting the intelligence of Nigerians that he annulled their mandate to forestall a violent coup, which by reasonable inference, he was aware of.
“He lost the opportunity of being the hero of democracy and father of a new Nigeria, an eternal regret that no whitewashing on television can redeem.
Afenifere also accused the Muhammadu Buhari administration making saints of previous administrations in every aspect of governance.
The group added that the Buhari-led administration has failed in all its election promises to Nigerians especially on security, economy and anti-corruption.
“It is no gainsaying the fact that the present adminstration has made saints out of previous administrations in every aspect of governance.”
According to the group, the Babangida administration cannot be accused of sectional and sectarian disposition which is the hallmark of the Buhari government.
Read also:
Government Has Not Fulfilled June 12 Promises – MKO Abiola Family
IBB’s Defence of June 12 Annulment Gets Afenifere Backlash
Democracy Day is June 12, a national public (bank) holiday in Nigeria.
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