MKO Abiola begged IBB to allow him be President even for one day – Anenih

Tony Anenih, former national chairman of MKO Abiola's Social
Democratic Party, SDP, has revealed that the late politician begged
ex-military president, Ibrahim Babangida, to allow him to be Nigeria's
President even if for a day.

Anenih was the national chairman of the SDP when the June 12 election
was annulled by the Babangida military junta.

In his book, "My life and Nigerian Politics," Anenih disclosed that in
one of his meetings with Abiola, the late politician repeatedly told
him that Babangida was trying to embarrass him.

He wrote: "On the issue of June 12, Chief MKO Abiola had called me on
the phone to come for an urgent meeting in Ikeja. I flew to Ikeja and
met Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, Dr Dele Cole, and Kola, MKO's son

"At the meeting, Chief MKO told us that his friend, Ibrahim Badamasi
Babangida, planned to embarrass him. He kept repeating this without
stating the type of embarrassment. Later, Abiola insisted that they
must leave his house for Kola's.

"He was terribly frightened and depressed. We all moved to Kola's
house in Maryland. Right from this time, Chief Abiola was trying to
get President Babangida on the phone, but each time he tried (Halilu)
Akilu (then director-general, National Intelligence Agency) received
the call.

"We could hear Chief Abiola telling Akilu to tell his friend (IBB)
that they were still friends, and that he should allow him to be
president, even for one day, and he would resign thereafter; that all
the photographs they took together were still all over his house, and
that he should not forget the past, and that God would bless him."