The family of a deceased former Nigerian military leader,General Sani Abacha has said their patriarch was neither the Head of State nor the Commander-in-Chief when the June 12, 1993, presidential election was annulled.

According to the family, 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 his government’s actions.

Babangida, popularly known as IBB, alleged in his recently launched book, “A Journey in Service,” that the late General Abacha was responsible for annulling the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

However, refuting the claims, Mohammed Abacha said any attempt to shift that blame to the late General, a senior military officer within the regime, was a deliberate distortion of historical facts.

Mohammed said the memory of their late father and leader, General Abacha, must not be tarnished by baseless accusations meant to absolve those who were truly responsible.

“Our attention has been drawn to recent claims made by former Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, in his newly launched book, “A Journey in Service”, where he alleged that the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election was the responsibility of the late General Sani Abacha.

“These claims have sparked widespread controversy and necessitate a clear response from the immediate family of General Sani Abacha and the entire Abacha clan in the interest of historical accuracy and justice.

“It is important to state unequivocally that General Sani Abacha was neither the Head of State nor the Commander-in-Chief when the June 12 election was annulled. The decision to revoke 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 his government’s actions.

“Any attempt to shift this blame onto General Sani Abacha, who was a very senior military officer within the regime, is a deliberate distortion of historical facts.

“For years, various actors have attempted to rewrite the history of that critical period in Nigeria’s democratic evolution. However, the facts remain unchanged. We urge Nigerians to be wary of revisionist narratives that seek to manipulate public perception for personal or political reasons. 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.

“Furthermore, we wish to emphasise that despite this unfortunate attempt to shift blame, General Sani Abacha remained a faithful and loyal friend to General Ibrahim Babangida until his death. He was a man of unwavering commitment to his comrades. We also find it necessary to state that when General Babangida’s life was under threat, General Abacha came to his rescue, ensuring his safety.

“We take this opportunity to express our heartfelt appreciation to the many Nigerians who have risen in defence of General Sani Abacha to set the record straight. Your unwavering commitment to truth and historical accuracy is deeply appreciated, and we acknowledge the outpouring of support from those who refuse to allow history to be distorted.

“As we reflect on Nigeria’s history, we acknowledge General Sani Abacha’s time in leadership and his role in the nation’s development. Like past leaders, his contributions remain part of our country’s history. We believe that history is best judged with fairness and objectivity,” he added.

Bukola Saraki, former senate president, has asked Senate President Godswill Akpabio to “face reality and do what is right.”

Saraki was reacting to comments made by Akpabio, on Friday, when the senate president hosted some Niger Delta youth leaders.

Akpabio had said there were individuals in Adamawa and Kwara states who wish to see him removed from his position.

Though Akpabio didn’t mention names, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Saraki, who are from Adamawa and Kwara respectively, had issued statements calling on the senate president to step aside regarding the case involving Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central.

Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused Akpabio of making sexual advances towards her during a visit to his home in Akwa Ibom state.

The allegation was preceded by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s outburst against Akpabio over the seating arrangement in the senate chambers.

In a statement on Sunday signed by Yusuph Olaniyonu, his media aide, Saraki described Akpabio’s assertions as “cheap politics and trivialising of a serious issue.”

He reiterated the need for an open and unbiased investigation into the sexual harassment allegations made by Akpoti-Uduaghan.

“The attention of the Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office has been drawn to the statement made by Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio while addressing the leaders of some “youth ethnic groups” on Friday that certain individuals from Kwara and Adamawa States want him removed because he is from the Niger Delta region,” the statement reads.

“Ordinarily, Dr. Saraki would have ignored the statement as a sign of the times in which we now live. However, its underlying motive of politicising and trivialising a serious issue that threatens the integrity, credibility, and importance of the legislature is the reason why we think we should not allow the Senate President to create a misleading impression of the issue at stake in the all-important institution that the National Assembly represents in our democracy.

“Dr. Saraki in his last comment on the Akpabio-Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan crisis never called on the Senate President to resign or step aside. Rather, he urged the Senate President to be conscious of the fact that perception is reality and therefore he should avoid treating the allegations by the Senator in a manner that will create the perception that the Senate as an institution is trying to cover up issues bothering on sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and abuse of office.

“Also, Dr. Saraki made it clear that his intervention was neither about Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan nor whether her claim was right or not. He stated that since the Senator has gone public with such serious allegations against the presiding officer, the image of the institution should be saved through an honest, sincere, open, transparent, and unbiased investigation.

“In that press statement, he also pointed out that there are already existing processes recommended in the Constitution, laws of the land, Senate rules, conventions, and precedents to be followed in carrying out such investigation.

“Again, Dr. Saraki is of the firm belief that his suggestions are for the benefit of the legislative institution. So, he will repeat the same suggestion no matter where the Senate President comes from and whichever party he belongs to.

“It is not because the incumbent is a member of the APC, that the former Senate President is from the PDP or that the former is from the South-South zone while the latter is from the North Central zone. Far from it. It is disingenuous and crude to describe Dr. Saraki’s comment along those primordial lines.

“This issue is definitely not one in which Akpabio should exploit ethnic sentiments, political division, or regional proclivity. This will neither be in his own interest or that of the institution over which he is presiding. He should face the reality on ground and do what is right.”

The statement noted that Saraki stands by and maintains his earlier suggestion to Akpabio and the senate leadership on the allegations raised by Akpoti-Uduaghan.

“An open, transparent, and honest investigation of the allegations is still needed to ensure that the Senate is not cast in the image of an institution that is tolerant of sexual harassment, gender bias, victimisation and mistreatment of women, abuse of office, and enthronement of the culture of silence,” the statement reads.

“By having such an investigation, the general public and the international community will have more confidence in our legislative institution.

“People like Dr. Saraki have made huge sacrifices in defending the integrity of the legislative institution and will not desist in speaking up for the right thing to be done. May God bless our institutions and our country.”