The family of late Head of State, General Sani Abacha (rtd), has cautioned former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, against tarnishing the image of the former military leader with what they described as false and misleading claims.
In a statement released on Sunday and signed by Mohammed Abacha, the family reacted to Babangida’s recent book, “A Journey in Service,” where he alleged that the annulment of the historic June 12, 1993, presidential election was the responsibility of General Sani Abacha.
The Abacha family said Babangida’s claim has sparked widespread controversy and necessitated a response in the interest of historical accuracy and justice. They described the allegation as a deliberate distortion of facts aimed at rewriting Nigeria’s democratic history.
According to the family, “Any attempt to shift this blame onto General Sani Abacha, who was a very senior military officer within the regime, is a deliberate distortion of historical facts. For years, various actors have attempted to rewrite the history of that critical period in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.”
They emphasized that General Abacha was neither the Head of State nor the Commander-in-Chief when the June 12 election was annulled, stressing that the decision was taken solely under Babangida’s administration. “The decision to annul the election was made under the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, who, as the then Head of State, held absolute executive powers and was solely responsible for the actions of his government,” the statement noted.
The family also urged Nigerians to be wary of revisionist narratives aimed at manipulating public perception for personal or political reasons. They added that “the memory of our late father must not be tarnished by baseless accusations meant to absolve those truly responsible.”
Recalling how Abacha once saved Babangida’s life when it was under threat, the family expressed disappointment that Babangida’s book failed to present a truthful account, saying, “honesty, sincerity, and integrity are virtues not commonly associated with the author.”
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