The family of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has issued a stern warning to former Military President General Ibrahim Babangida, urging him to stop tarnishing the reputation of the former military leader. In a statement released on Sunday by Mohammed Abacha, the family addressed allegations made by Babangida in his recent book, A Journey in Service, where he claimed that the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election was the responsibility of General Sani Abacha.
The Abacha family described the claim as false and misleading, emphasizing that it has sparked widespread controversy and necessitated a response to set the record straight. The statement read, “Any attempt to shift the blame for the annulment of the June 12 election onto General Sani Abacha, who was a senior military officer at the time, is a deliberate distortion of historical facts. For years, various individuals have tried to rewrite the history of that critical period in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.”
The family clarified that General Abacha was neither the Head of State nor the Commander-in-Chief when the June 12 election was annulled. They stated, “The decision to annul the election was made under the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, who, as the then Head of State, held absolute executive powers and was solely responsible for the actions of his government.”
The statement also urged Nigerians to be cautious of revisionist narratives aimed at manipulating public perception for personal or political gain. “The memory of our late father and leader, General Sani Abacha, must not be tarnished by baseless accusations meant to absolve those who were truly responsible,” the family asserted.
Additionally, the Abacha family highlighted an incident where General Abacha reportedly saved General Babangida’s life. “We also find it necessary to state that at a time when General Babangida’s life was under threat, it was General Abacha who came to his rescue, ensuring his safety,” the statement noted.
The family expressed disappointment with Babangida’s book, stating that it missed the opportunity to provide a truthful and objective account of past events. “As one public commentator aptly put it, honesty, sincerity, and integrity are virtues not commonly associated with the author,” the statement concluded.
This development underscores the ongoing debate over Nigeria’s political history and the legacy of its former leaders, with the Abacha family seeking to protect the reputation of their late patriarch against what they describe as unfounded accusations.
