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Fri, Mar

IBB Should Be Blamed For The Annulment Of June 12 – Tony Momoh

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Former Minister of Information and a leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Tony Momoh says former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida should be held responsible for the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election which MKO Abiola won.

 

In an exclusive interview with Independent, Momoh said whether Babangida acknowledges his mistakes and apologize of not, the facts are still there. On whether Babangida should take the blame he said

 

"Why not? He took the blame because the bucks stop on his desk. No! I don’t know whether he has apologized or not apologize but the fact is that it was the heavy-duty pressure from people who said Abiola becoming President will be over their dead body just like some people said Buhari’s swearing-in will be over their dead body and I understand that they are still breathing now that Buhari has been sworn-in.

 

"Anyway, it is neither here nor there but the fact of the matter is that nobody immortalized Abiola until the person they thought could not do it did it and that is Buhari. Though Buhari recognizing June 12 as our own Democracy Day is worthwhile, he even did more by renaming the National Stadium Abuja as Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

 

"I am very happy with that type of recognition because Abiola, during his lifetime was known as the pillar of sports in Nigeria. So, it is very befitting recognition."

 

Speaking on lessons learnt from June 12 he said

 

"June 12 will inspire us to achieve poverty alleviation through democratic means. June 12 will also let us sort out ourselves to know what quantum of freedom we need to drive growth because the essence of any system is growth. Chapter 2 of the constitution said government is there because of the welfare and security of the citizenry.

 

"So, welfare and security is at the top of growing a nation and the means of doing so is by achieving our democracy. So, we must look at our democracy and see whether we need democracy full-time to grow our nation or we need part-time to enhance the growth of our nation. For me, I think part-time legislating and decongesting the political space will help us grow Nigeria faster. We must revisit our democracy structures so that we can spend the money we gain in taking our people out of poverty level."

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