Jamiu Abiola, son of the late Chief Moshood Abiola, the widely recognized winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, has expressed that initiating a formal investigation into former military Head of State Ibrahim Babangida’s role in his father’s death is no longer warranted. In an interview, Jamiu explained that the window for such an inquiry has closed, pointing out that many of the key individuals involved in the events surrounding June 12 have since passed away. There is little value in pursuing a prosecution or probe at this stage,” Jamiu stated. “So many years have elapsed, and the majority of those who played significant roles, both positively and negatively, in the June 12 events are no longer living.”
He suggested that the optimal time for an investigation would have been during the second term of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, when Nigeria’s democratic institutions were more firmly established and many of the relevant figures were still alive and able to provide firsthand accounts. Jamiu also directed those seeking a deeper understanding of the annulment and its context to his book, ‘The President Who Never Ruled.’
“The book offers a comprehensive account of what transpired during the annulment and the reasons behind it,” he said. He did caution readers to approach the book with an open mind, focused on understanding the truth rather than seeking retribution.
According to Jamiu, the most meaningful tribute to the Abiola family would be for Nigerians to embody the spirit of unity and national cohesion that characterized the June 12, 1993 election.
“The greatest compensation our family could receive is to witness Nigerians adopting the same attitude they displayed on June 12, 1993, which essentially means rejecting tribalism and religious divisions in the electoral process and recognizing themselves as part of a single national family, regardless of their state of origin,” he explained. He emphasized that Nigerians should prioritize transforming the country from a society marked by division to one characterized by unity. By doing so, they would be heeding President Bola Tinubu’s call to transcend ethnic affiliations and build a truly unified nation,” he said.
“I would ask for nothing more, as anything beyond this would diminish the extraordinary sacrifices made by Moshood and Kudirat Abiola. They gave their lives, and they will be rewarded with more than 500 million years in a place better than any castle in this world,” he added.
While any earthly honors bestowed upon his late parents would be appreciated, Jamiu believes that such recognition pales in comparison to the eternal reward his parents are now experiencing.
“Any worldly honor given to them is definitely welcome, but believe it or not, it will be only a drop in the ocean compared to what they are enjoying right now and will continue enjoying while every single one of those who cheated and killed them burn in hell forever and ever by the special grace of God,” he stated.”
