Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to late Nigerian military ruler General Sani Abacha, has stirred fresh controversy over the historic June 12, 1993, presidential election, suggesting that the real events surrounding the poll remain hidden from public knowledge.
In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Al-Mustapha revealed that the narrative widely accepted by Nigerians barely scratches the surface of what truly transpired during the controversial election period, which many regard as the freest and fairest in the nation’s democratic history.
“The issue of June 12 is bigger than how people understand it. What happened that time is not something the public really knows. And I am not ready to speak about it now,” he stated, leaving room for speculation and unanswered questions.
When asked to react to claims made in former military president General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s book, Al-Mustapha disclosed that he was neither invited to the book launch nor had he read its contents.
“I was not invited when the book was launched. I have not read it, so I won’t say anything for now, maybe later,” he remarked.
During the interview, Al-Mustapha also briefly touched on other national issues, including the circumstances surrounding Abacha’s death and his own political ambitions, but remained tight-lipped on providing detailed revelations.
Background
The June 12, 1993 election, widely believed to have been won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, was annulled by the military regime led by General Babangida, plunging Nigeria into a political crisis. The mystery and controversy surrounding the annulment continue to spark debate decades later.
Al-Mustapha’s hints at hidden truths may reignite calls for a full disclosure of what transpired behind closed doors during that pivotal chapter in Nigeria’s history.
