The family of late General Sani Abacha has issued a scathing response to former Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s claims in his new book, “A Journey in Service”.
Babangida alleged that Abacha was responsible for the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
However, the Abacha family vehemently denies these claims, stating that they are “a deliberate distortion of historical facts”.
According to the family, General Sani Abacha was neither the Head of State nor the Commander-in-Chief at the time the June 12 election was annulled. Instead, the decision to annul the election was made under Babangida’s administration, who “held absolute executive powers and was solely responsible for the actions of his government”.
The Abacha family emphasizes that any attempt to shift the blame onto General Abacha is a “deliberate distortion of historical facts”.
The family also notes that Babangida’s claims are part of a larger effort to “rewrite the history of that critical period in Nigeria’s democratic evolution”.
However, they argue that “the facts remain unchanged” and that Nigerians should be wary of “revisionist narratives that seek to manipulate public perception for personal or political reasons”.
Furthermore, the Abacha family highlights General Abacha’s loyalty to Babangida, stating that he “remained a true and loyal friend to General Ibrahim Babangida up to the time of his death”.
They also reveal that Abacha came to Babangida’s rescue when his life was under threat, ensuring his safety.
The family also criticizes Babangida’s book, stating that it was “written in bad faith” and driven by “lingering ill feelings towards General Sani Abacha”.
They point out that despite the book’s 400 pages, it does not contain a single picture of General Abacha, and that no invitation was extended to the Abacha family for the book launch.
In conclusion, the Abacha family urges Nigerians to remain committed to the truth and to reject any attempt to misrepresent the past for personal gain.
They also acknowledge General Sani Abacha’s contributions to Nigeria’s development, stating that his legacy “remains part of our country’s history”.
-BY Daniel Bampoe
