The children of the late Military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, have come to his defense following revelations made by former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), in his newly released autobiography, A Journey In Service.
In the book launched on Thursday, Babangida claimed that Abacha unilaterally annulled the June 12, 1993, presidential election without his consent. This assertion has sparked widespread reactions, prompting Abacha’s children, Sadiq Sani Abacha and Gumsu Sani Abacha, to take to social media in their father’s defense.
Sadiq Sani Abacha, in a social media post, praised his late father, describing him as a leader whom critics secretly envied. “The man Abacha—you have always been the one they envied with silent deceit. History shall remember you for being a better leader, no matter how much they try to put you down. As a son, I am most proud of you today. You indeed are the man they wish they were half of,” he wrote.
He concluded his post with a Hausa proverb: “Duk wanda yayi jifa a kasuwa,” which translates to “Whoever throws a stone in the market…”, implying that actions have consequences.
Similarly, Gumsu Sani Abacha actively reshared tweets defending her father’s legacy on 𝕏 (formerly Twitter). One of the notable tweets she reposted was from former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, who expressed regret that Abacha was not alive to counter Babangida’s claims.
“Unfortunately, Abacha is not alive to state his own side of the story,” Senator Sani remarked.
As the controversy surrounding Babangida’s book continues to unfold, the late General Abacha’s legacy remains a subject of intense debate within Nigeria’s political landscape.
