Red Nigeria’s elite class has once again demonstrated their impunity, bigotry, and carelessness toward the very people they swore to lead and protect. Their hypocrisy is evident, their collaboration undeniable, and their actions have effectively ruined the heritage of our unborn generations. The recent book release by General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), a man who should be answering for his crimes rather than enjoying literary celebrations, is an insult to every Nigerian who has suffered under the weight of this country’s systemic failures.
It is not just about Babangida—it is about all the men who have hijacked Nigeria’s future. From Olusegun Obasanjo to Abdulsalami Abubakar and all those who participated in the destruction of democracy, their hands are stained with the blood of the innocent, their pockets lined with the wealth stolen from the people.
The Hypocrisy of the Nigerian Elite
For decades, Nigeria has been led by men who claim to be patriots but are, in fact, nothing more than opportunists. They have rewritten history, erased their atrocities, and manufactured self-serving narratives that paint them as heroes. The launch of Babangida’s book is not just an act of historical distortion—it is a crime against the collective memory of this nation.
How does a man responsible for the annulment of the June 12 presidential election, a man who plunged the country into chaos, stand today as a respected elder? How does he raise N17 billion in mere hours while millions of Nigerians struggle to afford a single meal? How does Nigeria, a country that claims to be on the path of democracy, still allow the architects of its greatest betrayals to walk free?
These men should be in jail, not in book launches. Their legacies should be trials, not libraries. Justice delayed is justice denied, and Nigeria has delayed justice for too long.
The Demand for Justice: The June 12 Betrayal Must Not Be Forgotten
We must categorically demand justice for Chief MKO Abiola, the rightful winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election. The annulment of that election was not just a crime against him it was a crime against democracy, against hope, against the future of Nigeria.
We demand the immediate setup of a judicial committee to investigate, document, and prosecute all those responsible for the annulment of that election. This includes Babangida and every co-conspirator who played a role in the destruction of that democratic process.
Furthermore, Abiola must be posthumously declared a former President of Nigeria. His family must be duly compensated for the years of injustice they have endured. The thousands of people who lost their lives in the protests and crackdowns following the annulment must be remembered, and their families must receive the justice that has long been denied them.
Crimes of the Military Junta Must Be Addressed
The military rulers of Nigeria committed crimes that go beyond the annulment of an election. Babangida’s administration is guilty of the murder of Dele Giwa, a journalist assassinated through a parcel bomb because he dared to speak the truth. It is guilty of the phantom coups that led to the executions of innocent military officers. It is guilty of the mysterious plane crash that wiped out promising officers in the Nigerian Army. It is guilty of the disappearance of $12 billion from the Gulf War oil windfall money that could have transformed Nigeria into a global economic powerhouse.
These crimes cannot go unpunished. The people who carried them out must be held accountable, no matter how long it takes. Around the world, war criminals are still being prosecuted decades after their atrocities. Nazi collaborators, now in their 90s, are still being sent to prison. Why should Babangida and his fellow criminals be treated differently?
We must demand their trials. If Nigeria is to ever move forward, it must first deal with the sins of its past.
The Way Forward: A National Reckoning and True Reform
Nigeria must stop pretending that we can move forward without confronting the atrocities that have been committed against this nation. We cannot continue to sweep history under the rug, allowing murderers and thieves to reinvent themselves as statesmen.
Here is what must happen:
1. A Truth and Justice Commission – Similar to what South Africa did after apartheid, we need an independent body to investigate and prosecute crimes against the Nigerian people committed by past regimes.
2. Posthumous Presidential Recognition for MKO Abiola – Abiola must be declared the rightful winner of the 1993 election, and his family must receive the compensation and recognition they deserve.
3. Criminal Trials for Military Junta Leaders – Every living former military dictator must be investigated for their role in human rights abuses and economic crimes.
4. A New Constitution for Nigeria – The 1999 Constitution is a fraudulent document imposed by the same military that ruined Nigeria. We need a people-driven constitution that guarantees justice, equity, and true federalism.
5. Mass Civic Mobilization – Nigerians must refuse to let history repeat itself. We must demand better governance, accountability, and leadership that serves the people, not the elite.
A Call to Action: We Must Take Back Our Nation
Nigeria’s future has been stolen by a cabal of selfish, corrupt men who believe they are untouchable. It is up to us, the people, to prove them wrong. We must refuse to be silent in the face of oppression. We must demand justice for June 12, for Dele Giwa, for the unknown soldiers killed in phantom coups, and for every Nigerian whose dreams have been crushed by the elite’s greed and impunity.
This is not just about Babangida. This is about the system that allows criminals to become kings, that rewards betrayal with wealth, and that silences those who speak the truth. It is about breaking that system, once and for all.
Justice for Nigeria is long overdue. It is time to reclaim our nation from those who have stolen it. And that begins with demanding that the criminals of our past finally face the judgment they have evaded for so long.
Nigeria must never forget. And Nigeria must never forgive until justice is served.
By : Jide Adesina
Nigerians Stand for Good Governance
February, 2025
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