Former NBA Chairman, Olanipekun Criticizes Babangida’s Regret over June 12, Calls It Insufficient
Former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun, has taken aim at former Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, for his recent expression of regret over the annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election.
Olanipekun voiced his disapproval during a lecture at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Mowe, Ogun State, where he was attending a ceremony in honor of Pastor E.A. Adeboye’s 83rd birthday.
The senior lawyer argued that Babangida’s regret, as outlined in his autobiography A Journey in Service, fell short because it lacked a direct apology to the family of the late Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled election. Olanipekun called Babangida’s actions treasonous and criticized the former military leader for failing to express genuine remorse, apologize, or offer any form of reparation for the damage caused to Abiola’s family and to the Nigerian people.
Although Babangida had conceded that the June 12 election was the freest and fairest in the nation’s history and acknowledged that Abiola had won, he did not offer an apology to Abiola’s family or the Nigerian public, which Olanipekun found deeply inadequate.
Olanipekun also emphasized the need for restructuring in Nigeria to ensure long-term stability and prosperity, stating that the country’s current structure is insufficient to address its challenges.
He remarked, “Notably, throughout the launch of the former military president’s autobiography, amid all the fanfare, there was not a single word of apology to the late M.K.O. Abiola, his family, or the Nigerian people, whose collective will was thwarted. There has been no remorse, no apology, no contrition, no reparations, and no appeal for forgiveness.”
He further pointed out the deep consequences of the annulment, noting, “Abiola died while in detention, his wife Kudirat was assassinated, his business was destroyed, his family was thrown into turmoil, and many Nigerians lost their lives, some at the hands of state agents, including Pa Alfred Rewane.”
