Hafsat Abiola-Costello, daughter of the late Chief MKO Abiola, has dismissed former military ruler Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s admission that her father won the June 12, 1993, presidential election as nothing new, insisting that Nigerians have always known the truth.
Reacting to Babangida’s revelation in his newly released autobiography, A Journey In Service, Hafsat reaffirmed that her father’s victory was never in doubt.
“My father won, we always knew it,” she stated in a response issued on Friday.
While acknowledging the significance of Babangida’s public admission, she maintained that it does not erase the pain and injustice endured by her family and Nigerians as a whole.
Babangida’s statement has reignited discussions about the annulment of the election, which many consider a major setback in Nigeria’s democratic history. Some see his confession as an opportunity for deeper reflection on the sacrifices made to uphold democracy in the country.
“For those that kept expressing doubt that Nigerians had spoken so decisively on that day, I’m glad that General IBB’s admission that MKO won the election can now lay the matter to rest,” she said.
Hafsat further reflected on the personal toll of the annulment, saying that whenever June 12 is mentioned, she thinks of both her parents, MKO and Kudirat Abiola, who fought for democracy at great personal risk.
“When anyone mentions June 12, my mind always goes to MKO and Kudi. But June 12’s staying power was because the vote that Nigerians expressed that day was a vote for a better future and for unity,” she said.
She emphasized that her father was not just a candidate but a symbol of the collective hope of Nigerians for a brighter future.
“MKO may have been the symbol of the Hope ‘93 campaign, but June 12 was about more than one man; it was about the promise of Nigeria that would deliver for Nigerians,” she noted.
Expressing regret over the annulment, she lamented that such a pivotal moment in the country’s history was derailed by political forces.
“It’s sad that such a galvanizing statement as the breakthrough vote for MKO should have been truncated by an unjust annulment,” she said.
Despite the injustice, she paid tribute to her parents for standing by the people’s will, even at great personal risk.
“But I will be forever grateful to both MKO and Kudi for not allowing their fears for their personal safety to stand in the way of the people’s desire for a better Nigeria. May such commitment endure,” Hafsat concluded.
