Afenifere: IBB’s excuse for annulling June 12 election an insult on intelligence of Nigerians 

Afenifere, Yoruba socio-cultural group, has described the excuse Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), former military head of state, gave for annulling the June 12 election as an insult on the intelligence of Nigerians. 

IBB had annulled the June 12, 1993, general election considered by most Nigerians as the freest and fairest poll in the country’s history.

In an interview on Friday, IBB had said he annulled the election to prevent a violent coup d’etat. 

But reacting, Sola Ebiseni, secretary-general of Afenifere, described Babangida’s comment as “a sour taste in the mouth.”

“Babangida has not said a new thing worthy of any reaction in respect of his treasonable acts of the annulment of the adjudged freest and fairest election in the country’s political history,” he said. 

“Nigerians are not interested in any excuse being given by IBB. It is even most preposterous that IBB will only now be insulting the intelligence of Nigerians that he annulled their mandate to forestall a violent coup, which, by reasonable inference, he was aware of.

“He lost the opportunity of being the hero of democracy and father of a new Nigeria, an eternal regret that no whitewashing on television can redeem.

“However, it is no gain saying the fact that the present administration has made saints of all previous administrations in every aspect of governance.”

He also said the President Muhammadu Buhari government has failed in the areas of his promises to Nigerians on security, economy and anti corruption. 

Ebiseni said the Babangida regime cannot be accused of sectional and sectarian disposition which is the hallmark of the Buhari government.

Afenifere also faulted the demand for 24 sureties by the federal high court, Abuja, for the 12 aides of Sunday Adeyemo, youth leader, popularly known as Sunday Igboho.

On Wednesday, Obiora Egwatu, presiding judge, while ruling on bail application for the aides, had admitted the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10 and 11th applicants to bail in the sum of N5 million and two sureties each.

Speaking with Punch, Ayo Adebanjo, the leader of Afenifere, described the bail conditions as “impossible”, noting that the bail conditions show evidence of the “authoritarian regime” of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Adebanjo questioned why the 12 Igboho’s aides were admitted on what he described as “heavy bail” when they did not committed murder.

“What have they done? You locked them up and detained them, then you are asking for impossible bail?” Adebanjo questioned.

“It is part of the oppression of this government. What is their charge to warrant such heavy bail? Murder? Stealing or what?

“They woke them up and bundled them to Abuja, killed some of them and those that are alive are given impossible bail. What further evidence of authoritarian regime do we need?

“It is unfair. Only God will save us from Buhari. It is an unfair position for bail but I appeal to Yoruba sons and daughters to bail them.”