Prof Jonah Onuoha, Director, Centre for American Studies University of Nigeria Nsukka says former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida popularly known as IBB should tender an apology to Nigerians for derailing democratic process in 1993.
In his reaction, a social critic, Rev. Polycarp Gbaja said: “And there are no consequences to the overpampered, overreverred purveyor of this breach of justice? What about the many lives lost, people and a nation traumatised and pauperised for three decades and counting, while a select few of a brazen political ruling class continue to capture state and the instruments of state for their selfish, corrupt greedy and unjust agendas?
“This is why wrongdoing and impunity persist and have even escalated in our polity. Today, we now have a government of bandits, by bandits, for bandits; seared/zero consciences.
“IBB was practically being declared a saint by this discrepit congregation of two-faced politicians without the balls to call him out.
“Without true honor.
“What a crowd…”
In response to Gbaja on social media, a Commentator said: “Gbamsolutely! A pack of multi-dimensional, duplicitous characters. The ogboni group of Nigeria.”
Human rights activist and lawyer, Mr. Dele Farotimi, on his X handle said: “To die for a people devoid of memory, is to be killed over and over, again and again. In a place inhabited by the conscious, IBB would not dare to show his face in public. But in the crime scene that doubles as our country, having been succeeded by even more villainous ruiners, Badamasi is installed in the seat of the statesman. Tueh…(sign of disgust).
Onuoha, a lecturer and former Head of Department Political Science in UNN said this in Nsukka on Friday while reacting to Thursday validation of late Chief Moshood Abiola’s victory in June 12, 1993 by IBB.
He said now that Babangida had acknowledged the annulment of June 12 as well as admitted that Abiola the candidate of the Social Democratic Party won that Presidential election, he should go further to tender a national apology.
“The annulment of that election adjudged by Nigerians and international community as the most credible, free and fair presidential election in Nigeria had adversely affected democracy in the country till now.
“Not only was that, the fairest and freest election was annulled but many Nigerians lost their lives and property in the crisis that later followed.
“It’s not enough that IBB expressed regret over annulment of June 12 election but he should go further to tender a national apology to Nigerians as well as a special apology to family of Abiola ,” he said.
The director said now that it had been proved that Abiola won that election, President Bola Tinubu should
declare Abiola posthumously as the former President of the country since he won the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential poll.
“Justice demands that Abiola who won that election but died on the process of actualising the mandate given to him by Nigerians should be posthumously declared as a former President of the country.
“Federal Government should also compensate the family of Abiola by paying the family all the constitutional entitlements of a president for four years.
“It’s unfortunate that it took IBB a whole 32 years before telling Nigerians the truth about June 12 presidential election,” he said.
It would recalled that in chapter 12 of IBB autobiography launched Thursday in Abuja, titled, ‘A Journey In Service,’ the former military President regrets the annulment of June 12 election and described the annulment of the election as an “accident of history”.
● Additional report by Newsdiary Online.
