The UK chapter of the Bola Tinubu Support Organisation is demanding a formal apology from former military president General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (retd.) for annulling the June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s most credible vote.
The group’s Head of Media and Publicity, Muyiwa Adeliyi, issued a statement on Friday, calling Babangida’s recent acknowledgment of Chief Moshood Abiola’s victory “a step in the right direction but wholly inadequate.”
“For over three decades, Nigerians have lived with the painful memory of that stolen mandate,” Adeliyi said. “General Babangida must go beyond mere words. The honourable course of action is an unreserved, public apology.”
Babangida, in his autobiography, recently admitted, “I have no doubt he won the election,” a statement that has reignited national debate.
Adeliyi insisted an official apology is necessary to address the injustice, adding that Babangida’s annulment of the election on June 23, 1993, triggered widespread protests, international condemnation, and prolonged political instability.
“Anything less fails to acknowledge the suffering endured by Abiola and the Nigerian people,” he stated.
Abiola was later arrested while fighting to reclaim his mandate. His detention ended tragically in 1998, further deepening Nigeria’s wounds. His widow, Kudirat Abiola, was assassinated in 1996 while campaigning for democracy.
Adeliyi stressed that many Nigerians in the diaspora share the view that Babangida’s recent admission is insufficient. “True reconciliation requires more than acknowledging past mistakes,” he said. “A formal apology would help heal national wounds. Babangida must fully account for the consequences of his decision.”
He urged the National Assembly to intervene, suggesting a televised public apology and reparations for Abiola’s family as steps toward national healing.
“These demands are necessary for justice. Babangida must seize this opportunity to do the right thing,” Adeliyi said. “History will judge leaders not just by their actions but by their willingness to make amends.”
