Former military president Ibrahim Babangida revealed in his autobiography that he offered Moshood Abiola an interim government after annulling the 1993 election, but Abiola declined. Babangida blamed General Sani Abacha for misleading Abiola and later admitted to underestimating Abacha’s ambitions, which led to a military takeover and Abiola’s detention.
Former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, has disclosed in his new autobiography, A Journey in Service, that he offered an interim government to Moshood Abiola after annulling the 1993 presidential election, but Abiola rejected the proposal. Babangida claimed that he attempted to negotiate with Abiola through traditional rulers, proposing a temporary leadership arrangement. However, Abiola refused, believing it would undermine his election victory.
Babangida also accused General Sani Abacha, the then-chief of Defence Staff, of misleading Abiola and manipulating the situation for his gain. He admitted underestimating Abacha’s ambitions, assuming his loyalty but later realized that Abacha had been secretly plotting within the military. Eventually, in November 1993, Abacha staged a coup, removed interim leader Ernest Shonekan, and later detained Abiola after he declared himself president in 1994. Both Abacha and Abiola died in 1998—Abacha in June and Abiola a month later while still in detention.
