THE PRESIDENT of the Centre for Change, a civil society organisation (CSO), Dr Joe Odumakin, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to posthumously recognise Moshood Kashimawo Abiola (MKO) as a past President of Nigeria.
Odumakin said Tinubu should grant Abiola’s family all the rights and entitlements due to deceased Presidents.
The human rights activist made this call on Friday in response to former military president Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s remarks at his autobiography launch.
She condemned Babangida’s attempt to rewrite history, particularly regarding the annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election.
Odumakin criticised Babangida’s contradictions, noting he admitted responsibility for the annulment yet blamed his late Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Sani Abacha.
“It is absurd that Babangida, as Commander-in-Chief, accuses a deceased man of such a grave offence, knowing Abacha cannot defend himself,” she stated.
She questioned Babangida’s claims, arguing that he had the authority to remove Abacha if he had truly acted against the people’s mandate given to Abiola.
Odumakin recalled Babangida’s repeated delays in transitioning to civilian rule.
She noted that the former military president postponed handing over power in 1990 and 1992 before annulling the 1993 election.
“Will he also blame Abacha for those postponements?
“What about the banning, unbanning, and re-banning of political groups and individuals? Was Abacha responsible for that too?” she asked.
According to her, Babangida’s transition programme was never intended to transfer power to a democratic government.
She called on Tinubu to hold Babangida and others accountable for the chaos caused by the annulment, describing it as a capital offence. (NAN)
