In a statement released on Sunday, Mohammed Abacha, speaking on behalf of the Abacha family, addressed recent allegations made by former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, in his book A Journey in Service. In the book, Babangida claimed that the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election “was the responsibility of the late General Sani Abacha.” In response, the family of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha (rtd), cautioned General Babangida against tarnishing the reputation of the former military leader.
The statement vehemently rejected these allegations, calling them false, and emphasized that any attempt to shift the blame onto General Sani Abacha—who was a senior military officer at the time—was a deliberate distortion of historical facts. “For years, various actors have sought to rewrite the history of that critical period in Nigeria’s democratic evolution,” the family stated. They also urged Nigerians to remain vigilant against revisionist narratives designed to manipulate public perception for personal or political gain, underscoring that “the memory of our late father and leader, General Sani Abacha, must not be tarnished by baseless accusations meant to absolve those who were truly responsible.”
The Abacha family expressed regret that A Journey in Service missed the opportunity to serve as a truthful and objective account of past events. “As one public commentator aptly put it, honesty, sincerity, and integrity are virtues not commonly associated with the author,” they remarked.
The claim that General Abacha played a role in the annulment of the June 12 election sparked widespread controversy, prompting the Abacha family to issue this clear response in the interest of historical accuracy and justice.
The statement further detailed how General Abacha had, in fact, played a critical role in ensuring General Babangida’s safety during a time of grave personal danger. “It was General Abacha who came to the rescue of General Babangida when his life was under threat, ensuring his safety,” the family noted.
Additionally, the Abacha family reiterated that General Sani Abacha was neither the Head of State nor the Commander-in-Chief at the time of the annulment of the June 12 election. “The decision to annul the election was made under the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, who, as the then Head of State, held absolute executive powers and was solely responsible for the actions of his government,” the family clarified.
A Brief History of General Sani Abacha:
General Sani Abacha, who served as Nigeria’s military Head of State from 1993 until his death in 1998, remains one of the most controversial figures in Nigerian history. A career soldier, Abacha was appointed as the Chief of Army Staff in 1985 by General Ibrahim Babangida. He later took control of the country through a military coup in November 1993, following the abrupt resignation of Babangida. Abacha’s regime was characterized by a heavy-handed approach to governance, with widespread human rights abuses, suppression of political opposition, and stifling of press freedom. Despite these, he was also credited with stabilizing Nigeria’s economy and securing debt relief for the country. His sudden death in 1998 led to the end of military rule, and the subsequent transition to civilian governance.
