By Abiola Olawale
Gumsu Sani Abacha, daughter of the late Nigerian military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has reportedly thrown jibes at former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida over the later’s revelations in his book that Abacha led a group of military officers who annulled the June 12 presidential elections won by late business mogul, MKO Abiola.
Gumsu, who took to her official X handle, simply posted “Weakling.”
The post came shortly after Babangida reignited a decades-old controversy by blaming late General Abacha for the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election in his newly launched autobiography, “A Journey in Service.”
The timing and terseness of Gumsu’s message have led many to interpret it as a subtle jab at Babangida, who oversaw the annulment of what is widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest election, won by Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola.
In his 420-page memoir, unveiled in Abuja on February 20, 2025, Babangida revisited the events surrounding the annulment, a decision that plunged Nigeria into serious political crisis, forcing many pro-democracy activists to fleetje country over threats to their lives.
Babangida who acknowledged the election’s credibility and expressed regret over the annulment, calling it an “accident of history” and “most regrettable.”
However, he shifted blame to Abacha, his then-chief of Defence Staff, alleging that military forces led by Abacha annulled the election without his authorization.
Babangida recounted that he was in Katsina when the announcement was made by his late Chief of General Staff, Admiral Augustus Aikhomu’s press secretary, Nduka Irabor, an action he said was puzzling and shocking.
