Human rights activist and President of the Centre for Change, Joe Odumakin, has condemned former Head of State, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB), for what she describes as an attempt to mislead Nigerians about the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election. In a strongly worded statement, she criticized Babangida’s “double-speak,” noting that while he admitted responsibility, he also attempted to shift the blame onto the late General Sani Abacha.
Odumakin dismissed Babangida’s claim, questioning why, as Commander-in-Chief, he did not remove Abacha if he truly posed a threat to the democratic process. She pointed out that Babangida’s transition program was riddled with inconsistencies, including repeated delays and the banning and unbanning of political figures. According to her, these actions clearly showed that he had no real intention of handing over power to a civilian government.
She further reminded Nigerians that Babangida postponed the transition twice—first in 1990, then in 1992—before finally annulling the election in 1993. “Will he also blame Abacha for those postponements?” she asked, emphasizing that Babangida’s actions were a deliberate strategy to extend his grip on power.