How Babangida failed to make history in 1993 – Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has revealed how he once challenged former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, accusing him of failing to make history.

Speaking at a book launch in Babangida’s honor on Thursday, Tinubu recounted his frustration over the repeated postponement of the inauguration of elected officials in 1992 when he won a Senate seat representing Lagos West.

Babangida, who ruled Nigeria from 1985 to 1993, is widely known for annulling the June 12, 1993, presidential election, believed to have been won by the late Moshood Abiola.

Tinubu revealed that his bold confrontation with the military leader made him fear imprisonment, but he stood his ground.

“I confronted you that you had an opportunity to make history that day and you failed to do it. Why not inaugurate us? Why are you calling us back and postponing the inauguration?

“They thought I would end up in jail. You came out right at the end of the remark, you shook me. I can’t forget that,” Tinubu said amid applause from the crowd.

The President also hailed the former head of state for his contributions to national building, narrating how Babangida inspired him in politics.

“Without you, people like me won’t be in politics. Your progressive revolution to say that you want young, brilliant people in politics, you inspire some of us,” Tinubu said.

In his remarks, Babangida shared an insight as to why he annulled the June 12 presidential election.

32 years after the election, Babangida said he acted to protect the country’s interest.