MKO Abiola: Real reason I joined Abacha’s govt as Minister – Kingibe

NEWS

MKO Abiola: Real reason I joined Abacha’s govt as Minister – Kingibe

 

Babagana Kingibe, Chief MKO Abiola’s running mate in 1993 presidential election, has explained why he abandoned the mandate given to them following the election’s annulment and joined late Gen. Sani Abacha’s government to become a three-time minister under that administration.

Kingibe made this known to journalists yesterday in Maiduguri, Borno State, during a visit to the state Governor, Babagana Umara.

He said: “When we think of the collective good there are times when we have to sacrifice personal interests and join hands in rebuilding society and bringing peace and harmony to our people.

“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 consideration and all my actions have been informed by this consciousness of what is best in the national interest.

“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; 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 se, 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.”

Kingibe went on to serve in the regime of the late dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Internal Affairs, and Minister of Power and Steel amidst hue and cry from pro-June 12 advocates.

 

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Abacha: APC explodes over Bode George, Kola Abiola’s claims against Tinubu

POLITICS

Abacha: APC explodes over Bode George, Kola Abiola’s claims against Tinubu

 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday reacted angrily to recent comments by MKO Abiola’s son, Kola, and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Bode George, that ex-governor Bola Tinubu begged the late Gen. Sani Abacha for the post of a commissioner in Lagos State.

Joe Igbokwe, APC Publicity Secretary in Lagos, in a statement quoted Kola saying “It was after Tinubu had lost out that he decided to join hands with the National Democratic Coalition for the actualization of June 12 mandate.”

Igbokwe, in his reaction, said although APC did not find the need to “dignify a collapsed and a failed politician in Lagos or a little kid without sense of history with a response at a time like this, but we changed our mind because we do not want to allow lies to be told a thousand times so that some people will not believe it as the truth.”

He noted that before the annulment of June 12 1993 Presidential Elections Governors, Senators, House of Reps Members, State Assembly members had been in place and Tinubu was one of the elected Senators from Lagos.

The spokesman quipped: “Now how can an elected Senator be asking for a mere appointment as Commissioner? Does it make sense to anybody who is privileged to be a sensible person?”

“In one breath the story tellers said Asiwaju asked for the post of a commissioner and in another they told us he wanted to be Deputy Sole Administrator Of Lagos. Now, do we have anything like Deputy Sole Administrator then? Was it in existence? Are they not liars from the pit of hell?”

“We do understand the reason why Chief Bode George always have this penchant to get at Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the drop of a hat and even when it is not necessary. The gap between Asiwaju BAT and Chief Bode George in terms of political sagacity, leadership, achievements, follower ship, capacity, acceptance, credibility etc is a huge one in favour of Asiwaju.

“Asiwaju has been defeating and crushing Chief Bode George in every election in Lagos for 20 years and the world knows that George has been an unhappy man for 20 years. How can anyone in all honesty expect Chief Bode George to celebrate his potential political enemy?”

“Chief Bode George has found himself in a miserable political position in Nigeria in the past 20 years and everybody knows that Asiwaju kept him in that miserable situation and only a baby will think that he will be fair to Asiwaju in anything at all.

“While it is possible for Chief Bode George to work so hard to get to Asiwaju’s level in the next 20 years it is difficult if not impossible to bring Asiwaju to Bode George’s pathetic Level in order to bridge the gap”

“Lagos APC thinks that it is high time Chief Bode George took time to reflect on his poor and unpleasant politics in Lagos and the South West in the past 20 years and try to amends his ways for the better.

“An Igbo adage says when an old woman falls down two times on her way to the market she is bound to count what is remaining in her basket. Time has come for Chief Bode George to take stock and do a sober reflection on his political career.”

 

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