Who be IBB, wetin dey im book and why e dey important?

One book wey one former military President Ibrahim Babangida launch don become hot talking point for Nigeria, as e admit for di first time for di book say, na di candidate of di Social Democratic Party, Moshood Abiola win di June 12, 1993 presidential election wey e cancel.

Di former military leader wey pipo sabi well-well as IBB confession dey come 32 years afta di incident happun. Di circumstances wey surround di 1993 election bin dey covered in controversy, as conflicting reports dey show up sometimes.

Di 83-year-old retired army general for im autobiography wey e title, "A Journey in Service" wey e present to di public on Thursday, 20 February, tok about im experiences, decisions, and challenges wen e dey serve di kontri.

For di 420-page memoir, di former military ruler acknowledge say di 1993 election dey "credible, free and fair". Dis na as e blame one former Head of State Sani Abacha and oda military officers for cancelling di election.

Dis new admission, wey some pipo see as reopening old wounds, don trigger fresh debates instead of closure.

E don lead to plenty reactions ova di political situation and economic crisis for di kontri during im rule.

Many pipo go dey expect di former military ruler to also provide ansas to some questions wey relate to im policies at di time.

Wetin IBB tok about di June 12, 1993 election for di book

Di former head of state bin take responsibility for cancelling di exercise wey see MKO Abiola defeat di National Republican Convention (NRC) candidate, late Bahir Tofa.

However, even though e dey very clear to many pipo including foreign election observers say MKO win di election, Babangida for one national broadcast on 24 June 1993, announce say im don cancel am, e cite concerns ova national security as di reason.

"Undoubtedly, credible, free and fair elections bin hold on June 12, 1993. However, di tragic irony of history remain say di administration wey devise a near-perfect electoral system and conduct those near-perfect elections no fit complete di process.

"Dat accident of history dey most regrettable. Di nation dey entitled to expect my expression of regret. As a leader of di military administration, I accept full responsibility for all decisions taken under my watch,"

"June 12 happun under my watch; mistakes, oversights, and missteps bin happun in quick succession, but I say in my book, in all matters, we act in di supreme national interest so dat Nigeria go survive," di former leader tok.

IBB also publish for di books di election results wey show say MKO win.

"Although I dey on record and tok afta di election say Abiola no win di election, upon further reflection, and a closer examination of all available facts, particularly di detailed election results wey dey published as appendix to dis book, doubt no dey say MKO Abiola win di June 12 elections,"

"Upon closer examination of di original collated figure from di 110 polling booths nationwide, e dey clear say e satisfy di two main requirements for winning di presidential election – wey mainly be majority votes and geographical spread – having obtained 8,128,720 against Tofa 5,848,247 votes and e secure di mandatory one-third of di votes cast in 28 states of di federation including Abuja." Babangida admit for im book.

Di annulment bin spark nationwide protests and political unrest, wey force Babangida to step down two months afta for August 1993. E install interim goment wey Ernest Shonekan lead.

Sani Abacha use coup take ova di goment for November 1993.

Political leaders, Nigerians react...

Plenty past and present leaders and prominent pipo bin attend IBB book launch and dem reflect on im legacy plus di state of democracy for West Africa.

IBB admission on di annulment of di 1993 election also cause plenty reactions from Nigerians, as some hail am for im courage, odas bash am for di role e play for di 1993 elections.

Nigeria President Bola Tinubu wey be one of di pipo wey bin dey di fore-front of di call for democracy dat year, bin salute di di former Head of State. E say e show unusual courage and patriotism as e admit say late M.K.O. Abiola win di June 12 election for 1993.

Oga Tinubu add say di former leader admission about Abiola victory go help set di records properly.

"I happy about di revelation of June 12. My General, we no go forget to pray for you. I listen to you carefully. I no dey here to read speech. I dey here to pay homage.

"All I fit promise as di president na to try to do best, put di best forward, and make decisions, no mata how difficult dem be, in di interest of di kontri," e tok.

For im keynote address, former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo tok about di importance of multi-party democracy for Africa development.

E warn against di growing wave of military takeovers, as e call dem setback to democratic progress.

"Multiple parties dey good for our continent," Akufo-Addo tok, as e urge leaders to protect democratic institutions.

Former Nigerian Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon (retd.), hail Babangida rise from aide-de-camp to head of state, e describe am as "boss of bosses."

Former President Goodluck Jonathan describe Babangida as one of Nigeria most charismatic leaders and e call for di creation of presidential libraries to preserve di kontri political history.

Reacting to IBB admission on di June 12, 1993 election, di pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, tok say di revelation dey come late and e no reach to address its far-reaching consequences.

Di group Organising Secretary, Kole Omololu for one statement tok say, Babangida acknowledgement of di election credibility no remove am or im associates of di ogbonge damage wey di annulment cause.

"Im late acknowledgement say di election dey free, fair, and credible just confam wetin Nigerians don know for ova three decades—say Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola be di rightful winner of dat historic election," Omololu tok.

"However, dis long-overdue confession no fit free Babangida and im associates from di big betrayal dem give di nation.

"E no fit restore di lives of pipo wey die, nor e fit atone for di scars of oppression, bloodshed, plus di suppression of democracy. Di consequences of dat reckless annulment remain irreversible."

"Di Yoruba nation, and indeed all Nigerians, bear di brunt of Babangida self-serving power grab. Im decision put di kontri into katakata and e bring in an era of state-sponsored terror against democracy activists, pro-democracy media, and innocent citizens wey dare to demand justice," di statement read.

Di group say some of di consequences of IBB annulment, include di assassination of Kudirat Abiola, di cold-blooded murder of Alfred Rewane, and di relentless persecution of Pa Abraham Adesanya, among odas, wey dem tok say remain as permanent stain on Nigeria conscience.

Who be General Ibrahim Babangida?

General Ibrahim Babangida alias IBB rule Nigeria as military head of state from 27 August, 1985 – 27 August 1993.

E dey popular as di leader wey cancel di 1993 election wey kontri pipo plus international community consider as di most peaceful and freest and fairest for Nigeria history.

June 12 Presidential elections 1993 election na di first afta di 1983 military coup for Nigeria.

Moshood Kashimawo Abiola (MKO) run under di SDP while Bashir Tofa run under NRC.

IBB cancel di election ontop allegation of wuru-wuru and mago-mago.

For one interview for 2021 Gen. Babangida Rtd. say "If to say we allow June 12 happen e for cause violence. "

If to say we no use maradonic way, coup for don happun. A bloody coup wey for give room for instability for happun." E tok.

Dem born IBB for August 1941 for Niger state, northern Nigeria.

E receive military training for Nigeria, India, Great Britain, and di United States. E rise through di ranks and e dey known for im courage.

IBB play major role in suppressing one attempted coup for 1976 wen e waka enta one rebel-held radio station unarmed.

Gen. Babangida overthrow Muhammadu Buhari on August 27, 1985, and serve as Nigeria military ruler from 1985 to 1993.

E introduce economic policies like di Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), wey change di course of di kontri economy.

Im regime dey best remembered for two major events – di annulment of di June 12, 1993, presidential election, and di murder of veteran investigative journalist, Dele Giwa.

Dele Giwa die from one parcel bomb for im house for Ikeja, Lagos, wen e dey im study wit Kayode Soyinka, on Sunday 19 October 1986.

Di assassination occur two days afta Nigeria secret police- di State Security Service officials interview am.