By Charles Pemu 
Lagos – The long-awaited apology from former military president General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) for the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election has finally emerged, yet it has paradoxically served not as closure, but as a fresh catalyst for intensified demands for justice and systemic change across Nigeria.
As the nation marked Democracy Day yesterday, June 12, Lekan Abiola, son of the late acclaimed winner MKO Abiola, revealed at a memorial symposium in Lagos that Babangida had privately apologized to the family, an admission now made public with the release of the election results confirming MKO’s victory. This belated acknowledgement, Lekan Abiola stated, brings immense relief and ends decades of controversy. He, however, swiftly urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to pay all outstanding entitlements owed to his father.
This act of historical reconciliation immediately amplified calls for a definitive future. Hameen Abiola, another of MKO’s sons, demanded legislation to permanently institutionalize June 12 as Democracy Day, ensuring its legacy is etched into law for generations.
Simultaneously, prominent voices from civil society and regional groups converged, using the 32nd anniversary to press for the nation’s fundamental reconfiguration. Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, Aare Ona Kakanfo Gani Adams, and Women Arise President Joe Okei-Odumakin, among others, passionately advocated for true federalism as the singular solution to Nigeria’s pervasive challenges, including insecurity and disunity. Adams declared that restructuring was “inevitable,” while Okei-Odumakin reiterated calls for MKO Abiola to be officially recognized as a past President, urging for a “people’s constitution.”
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, added its weight, warning that Nigeria remains haunted by the “ghosts of June 12” and can only overcome its stagnation through holistic restructuring. The group notably urged President Tinubu and the political class to prioritize constitutional reform, even suggesting a new framework could be achieved before the 2027 general elections.
Thus, Babangida’s apology, while a significant historical moment, has effectively thrown fuel onto the fires of ongoing national debates, transforming a moment of reflection into a potent rallying cry for profound political and structural change. The unaddressed questions of June 12 continue to demand answers, pushing the current administration towards a reckoning with its past and future.