Chukwuemeka Ezeife, a former Governor of Anambra State, has revealed why former Military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida annulled the June 12 Presidential election, which produced the late M.K.O. Abiola as president-elect.
Ezeife disclosed that Babangida at the time was under threat to annul the election.
Speaking with Vanguard, Ezeife said the military hierarchy was opposed to announcing Abiola as the winner of the election.
He said, “We have not learnt any lessons from June 12. But what I am hearing now, it is as if nothing happened, anything can repeat itself many times over before we learn a lesson.
“It was a traumatic period especially for those of us who were directly involved. As for the importance of it, as you know, a Muslim/Muslim ticket cleared the whole thing including Kano where the opponent came.
“So, nobody knows the whole truth but I was close to Babangida and he was telling me that the military were opposed to (the declaration of Moshood Abiola as winner of the election).
“He said ‘will you like me to be killed?’ as if he had recognised the victory of Abiola and that if he (Abiola) is made President, people will kill him and kill the new President.
“So I said this one it is your job to do it but protect yourself as you do it. Of course he tried, it didn’t work.
“So if we stand 20 years from now and look at this decision, it will be commended, many people will commend it, nobody will be opposing it. And now nobody is against the President except that most people don’t believe that it was done in the interest of the nation. Some people think it is some plot to harvest Yoruba votes in 2019. It may not be and it may also be.”
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