June 12, 1993 Poll Annulment Devastating, Obasanjo Laments

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, lamented the annulment of June 12, 1993, Presidential election presumably won by late philanthropist, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, blaming the annulment on “bad belle.”
Obasanjo said the annulment robbed Egbaland and Ogun State the rare privilege of having three of its prominent sons occupying the number one leadership position in the country at different times till date since Independence.
Obasanjo spoke at the 46th President’s party of Abeokuta Club held, yesterday, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The elder statesman, who was referring to former Head of Interim National Government (ING), Chief Ernest Shonekan, and himself who governed the country first as a military Head of State and a civilian president, noted that Abiola would have become the third, if 1993 poll was not annulled.
Obasanjo was honoured as trustee of the club, while MKO Abiola was awarded a posthumous vice patron of the club.
The former president, who recalled that Abiola was his classmate at Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, said he (Abiola) richly deserved the award bestowed on him by the Abeokuta Club.
Obasanjo said, “When Abeokuta Club was in the process of being birthed, things in Abeokuta were not as rosy as they are today. And the sons of Abeokuta who were in Lagos put their heads together in late Chief Sobo Sowemimo’s house to think of what they could do to improve the development of Abeokuta as a city. I pay tributes to all those founding members, those who have departed this world, and those who are still here.
“I want to thank the club for this honour being bestowed on me, and the honour being bestowed on my school mate, MKO Abiola, which he richly deserved.