NADECO Chieftain Blasts Babangida: ‘Shameless, Unremorseful Over June 12 Annulment’
A chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Ayo Opadokun, has launched a scathing attack on former Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB), over his recent admission of wrongfully annulling the June 12, 1993, presidential election. Opadokun labeled Babangida’s so-called confession as pretentious, dubious, and devoid of any genuine remorse.
Babangida, in his newly released 420-page autobiography, Journey in Service, acknowledged the annulment of the historic election, which was widely believed to have been won by Chief MKO Abiola. However, Opadokun dismissed the admission as a desperate attempt at revisionism, accusing the former military ruler of seeking to manipulate history rather than confront his role in one of Nigeria’s darkest political betrayals.
‘Babangida is Dancing on the Graves of Innocent Nigerians’
Speaking on Wednesday, Opadokun did not mince words, condemning Babangida for what he described as shameless posturing and a calculated effort to rewrite history.
“The so-called admission is not only pretentious, but it is also deeply dubious and entirely lacking in remorse. In his 420-page book, General IBB engages primarily in revisionism, obscurism, and escapism. He has not disclosed anything new,” Opadokun declared.
Beyond the annulment itself, the NADECO leader lashed out at Babangida for showing no remorse for the bloodshed and national chaos that followed his decision. He accused the former dictator of “dancing on the graves of innocent martyrs” who died fighting for democracy.
“He is shamelessly dancing on the graves of innocent Nigerians who were killed simply so he, a military dictator, could cling to power and continue looting public funds for himself, his family, and his allies,” Opadokun fumed.
‘June 12 Bloodshed is on Babangida’s Hands’
Recalling the violent aftermath of the election annulment, Opadokun painted a grim picture of military repression, extrajudicial killings, and state-sponsored violence against pro-democracy activists. He pointed to the assassination of Kudirat Abiola, the widow of the acclaimed election winner, as a chilling example of the brutality that followed Babangida’s decision.
“In Ikorodu, when we attempted to bury three young victims, security forces overpowered us. They ordered us to tell the families to retrieve their loved ones’ remains without any ceremony. They even slapped mourners to silence them,” he recounted, emphasizing the merciless crackdown on dissenters.
Opadokun argued that Babangida should be held accountable for treason, given the far-reaching consequences of his actions. He recalled watching an interview with Professor Humphrey Nwosu, Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), where Nwosu confirmed that collation had been completed and that Abiola had indisputably won the election—even defeating his opponent, Bashir Tofa, in his home state of Kano.
“There is nothing new in what Babangida has said. It was already public knowledge that Abiola won, as polling unit results were displayed up to the state collation centers. Even his former political adviser, Professor Omo Omoruyi, affirmed this in his own book,” Opadokun added.
‘Babangida’s Betrayal Will Never Be Forgiven’
Opadokun went further to blame Nigeria’s stagnation on prolonged military rule, stating that the military’s intervention in politics—beginning with the January 15, 1966 coup—marked the country’s decline.
“The military’s reckless interference has stunted Nigeria’s growth. Their forceful takeover in 1966 arrested our national development and reduced us to nothing,” he lamented.
Rejecting any notion that Babangida’s admission could lead to reconciliation, Opadokun insisted that the former dictator remains morally culpable for the lives lost in the aftermath of June 12.
“Too many lives were lost because of him. Too much blood is on his hands, yet he still pretends to be a statesman,” he said.
Concluding, Opadokun declared that Babangida’s legacy will forever be tainted by the annulment of Nigeria’s freest and fairest election, and that his latest remarks were nothing more than a failed attempt to sanitize his image.
“History will not absolve Babangida. He stole democracy from Nigerians and plunged the nation into darkness. No amount of revisionism can change that,” Opadokun asserted.