‘No Apology, No Remorse’ – Olanipekun Slams Babangida Over June 12 Election

Legal luminary and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has strongly condemned the actions of for­mer Military President, Gener­al Ibrahim Babangida, over his handling of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

Olanipekun described Babangida’s annulment of the election as an act of treason, stating that despite the former leader’s recent expression of re­gret in his autobiography, there was no sign of genuine remorse or an apology to Nigerians.

Speaking during a lecture at Pastor E. A. Adeboye’s 83rd birthday held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Ibafo, Olanipekun crit­icized Babangida’s narrative on the annulment, calling it contradictory and lacking ac­countability.

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He pointed out that while Babangida admitted to subvert­ing the will of the Nigerian peo­ple, he failed to offer any apolo­gy to the late M.K.O. Abiola, his family, or the nation.

“Throughout the unveiling of the former military presi­dent’s autobiography and the ‘pomp and pageantry’ that sur­rounded the occasion, there was no word of apology to Abiola, his family, or the Nigerian people,” Olanipekun stated.

He further emphasized that Babangida’s actions remain treasonable, as they led to severe consequences, including Abio­la’s death in detention, the assas­sination of his wife Kudirat, the collapse of his business empire, and the loss of countless Nige­rian lives.

Beyond Babangida’s role in the annulment, Olanipekun reiterated the urgent need for Nigeria to undergo structural reforms.

He argued that the country’s current framework is flawed and incapable of delivering stability and prosperity. “This amoebic configuration will not take us far,” he remarked.

During a panel discussion following the lecture, Justice Eni Esan (rtd), Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency Chairperson, commented Olani­pekun’s insights.

She stressed the impor­tance of addressing Nigeria’s deep-rooted issues through sys­temic changes, including consti­tutional reform.

“I agree with Chief Olani­pekun on the need for a new constitution. We are merely treating the symptoms while ignoring the root causes of our problems,” Justice Esan said. She also highlighted how political elites resist reforms to protect their interests, making genuine change difficult.

Retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Pastor Leye Oyebade, also weighed in, emphasizing the necessity of strengthening institutions that promote law and order.

He advocated for a reforma­tion approach in the justice ad­ministration system and called for greater political will to drive constitutional overhauls.

Both panelists underscored that Ni­geria would continue to grap­ple with governance failures, corruption, and institutional decay without bold reforms, making Olanipekun’s call for structural change even more urgent.