Babangida: I offered Abiola head of interim govt, but he declined

Former military president Ibrahim Babangida has revealed that he proposed an interim government led by MKO Abiola following the annulment of the 1993 presidential election, but Abiola rejected the offer.

In his newly launched autobiography, A Journey in Service, Babangida detailed his attempts to resolve the political crisis, including meetings with Abiola through traditional leaders.

“At one of my several meetings with Abiola, arranged this time by some traditional leaders, I offered Abiola an interim position pending when we could resolve the situation. Not surprisingly, Abiola turned down my offer,” Babangida wrote.

He acknowledged Abiola’s refusal as understandable, given that he was convinced of his election victory and saw an interim arrangement as a betrayal.

Babangida also hinted that Abiola was misled by his associates, particularly Sani Abacha, the then-chief of Defence Staff. He claimed Abiola believed that once Babangida was ousted, the election would be reinstated in his favour.

“Unfortunately, Abiola turned his back on rapprochement with me and embraced the gimmicks of deceitful ‘friends’ who hid their real intentions from him,” Babangida wrote.

Babangida further disclosed his miscalculations about Abacha, whom he initially trusted. However, he later realized that Abacha had been plotting against him within the military and harboured deep resentment toward Abiola.

In November 1993, Abacha overthrew the interim government led by Ernest Shonekan, detaining Abiola after he declared himself president in 1994.

Both men died in 1998. Abacha in June and Abiola the following month while still in detention.