Babagana Kingibe, the running
mate to late Moshood Abiola, whose victory in the 1993 presidential election
was annulled by the Babangida junta, on Sunday, explained why he abandoned the
June 12 struggle to join the next military regime of late Sani Abacha.
Mr Kingibe, who was also
Nigeria’s former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), was last
year decorated as Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON), a title usually
reserved for vice presidents.
The Nigerian government also
acknowledged late Abiola’s June 12 mandate botched by former President Ibrahim
Babangida.
Mr Abiola, who died in prison
after he was arrested by the Abacha regime, was also posthumously decorated as
Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).
The current Nigerian President,
Muhammadu Buhari, who conferred those titles on the two, has also initiated the
alteration of the Nigerian Public Holiday Act to recognise June 12 as Democracy
Day, replacing May 29.
‘Son of the soil’
In Borno State, June 12 Democracy
Day was celebrated specifically in honor of Mr Kingibe, who hails from that
area.
The government of Borno staged an
elaborate celebration and durbar to celebrate Mr Kingibe.
As a mark of appreciation, the
former SGF, accompanied by some Borno elders, paid a courtesy call to the state
governor late Sunday afternoon where he thanked the government and people of
Borno for the show of love.
‘My story’
During the courtesy call, Mr
Kingibe took time to explain his commitment to the Nigerian project and why he
had “to accept appointments under the same late General Abacha’s military
regime believed to be responsible for the death of Abiola”.
Mr Kingibe said he was
“particularly happy with the magnitude of celebration” that took place in Borno
to mark the new Democracy Day which signifies love and solidarity towards him
as “a son of the soil as a key player in the events of that year.”
“I don’t think the celebration on
the actual 12th of June 1993 was any greater than the celebration of the first
Democracy Day on June 12,” he said.
“And for that I have to thank the
governor who gave the leadership, thank the people of Borno not only for
celebrating June 12 as Democracy Day per say, but I know that they also had in
mind that one of their own, their own son was also a critical player, I
appreciate the confidence and love.”
Mr Kingibe, who served under Mr
Abacha as a Minister of Foreign Affairs between 1993 and 1995 – a period during
which his supposed President-elect was still in prison, however, explained that
his decision to take a role in Abacha’s administration was for “national
interest which he put above his personal feelings”.
He said his action was in line
“with the teachings of the Muslim faith which he professes that leadership
comes from God which he accepted in good fate.”
“When we think of the collective
good, there are times when we have to sacrifice personal interest and join
hands in rebuilding society and bringing peace and harmony to our people
“I have addressed this issue of
why I joined Abacha’s government and so on. I know we won the elections on June
12, 1993, I know that injustice was done when those elections were annulled but
there is always one guiding principle in my public life which is that the
national interest supersedes any other considerations. All my actions have been
informed by this consciousness of what is best in the national interest.”
Appeal to political class
Mr Kingibe, known as one of the
‘power brokers’ in the current government of President Buhari, called on
politicians who aspired and lost at the APC governorship primaries to emulate
him and join the incumbent government of Borno “for the overall interest of the
state.”
The former SGF confessed that his
preferred candidate for Borno governorship during the primaries was Kashim
Imam, an APC chieftain who was many times governorship candidate of the PDP.
But he said he now supports the
eventual winner, even as urged all stakeholders to support as well.
“I do appeal to all sons and
daughters of Borno to always think of what is in the best interest of the
people of Borno in all we do. I hope that some of us will take initiatives and
appeal to people of quality who have measurable followership like Kashim Imam,
Mohammed Kumalia and all those who contested and those who did not contest.
“There are leaders in Borno that
are just looking at development with sadness but not being able to take
initiatives to bring our people together. I hope that we will wake up and come
together.”
In response, Governor Babagana
Umara thanked Mr Kingibe for paying a courtesy visit. He said Borno is very
proud of all his achievements “within and outside the country.”
The governor also thanked him for
the support. He promised to remain committed to his determination of taking
Borno to “the promised land driving on his ten-point agenda.”
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