It’s Not Too Late To Punish Babangida For June 12 Election Annulment -Sowore

Sowore, convener of #RevolutionNow movement, described Babangida as a “villain” responsible for Nigeria’s democratic setbacks.

In an interview with Nigerian Info FM, Sowore decried the fact that Babangida, who annulled the historic June 12, 1993, presidential election, is being honoured instead of facing justice for his actions.

He expressed dismay that the former leader, instead of “rotting in jail,” is enjoying privileges and reverence despite his role in what many consider one of Nigeria’s darkest political betrayals.

Babangida, popularly known as IBB, who ruled Nigeria from 1985 to 1993, remains a controversial figure in the nation’s political history.

His annulment of the June 12 election, widely believed to have been won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola led to political unrest and prolonged military rule, which ended in 1999.

Many Nigerians still hold him responsible for derailing the country’s democratic process.

During the launch of his book, “The Journey in Service,” and a fundraising event for his presidential library in Abuja on Thursday, Babangida acknowledged that Abiola won the June 12, 1993 presidential election, admitting that he takes full responsibility for the annulment.

During the interview, Sowore, a longtime advocate for good governance and accountability, argued that Nigeria’s failure to prosecute leaders who subvert democracy has emboldened impunity in the nation’s political system.

He said, “I’m convinced and I have expressed even before the book was launched a few days ago that it was going to be a pack of lies.

“My own conviction starts from the fact that Nigeria is so backward that justice is so delayed that people’s lives are ruined, the economy of this country was destroyed, the future of this country was suspended in 1993 by Babangida.”

“For him to come back 32 years later to slap the Nigerian people in the face with a book launch and a launch for his presidential library which raised over N17 billion in three hours instead of rotting in jail shows that Nigeria is not working.

“Nigeria never worked and we must make sure that this country works so that people who engage in impunity and criminal activities just don’t get away with it in such a way that they were even rewarded years later.”

Sowore was asked if the right thing to do is for IBB to apologize to Nigerians rather than merely admitting that Abiola won the election and taking responsibility for the annulment.

He said, “No, an apology is unnecessary. It is punishment that is necessary and I dare say that it doesn’t matter when he is punished but IBB ought to be punished even if it is one day to his death. He deserves to be punished.