Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has responded to a statement made by former Military President Ibrahim Babangida (IBB).

Babangida recently admitted that the late Chief MKO Abiola was the real winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

IBB made this statement during the launch of his autobiography, A Journey in Service, in Abuja. He said he regretted what happened and took full responsibility for the decision to annul the election.

Peter Obi attended the book launch and later shared his thoughts on social media. He praised Babangida for his contributions to Nigeria’s economy, especially in supporting businesses and private sector growth. He said Nigeria made progress in the financial sector under IBB’s leadership.

Obi also pointed out some important lessons from the event. He noted that while countries like Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, and Ghana have developed over the years, Nigeria has remained behind in human development.

He also compared Nigeria’s democracy to Ghana’s, saying Ghana has had fair elections where ruling parties respect the people’s votes.

One of the most important moments at the event was when Babangida admitted that MKO Abiola won the June 12, 1993 election. Obi said this is a step toward healing and unity in Nigeria.

He also expressed hope that other political leaders will find the courage to acknowledge the real winners of past elections. He believes that recognizing past election results honestly will help Nigeria move forward as a nation.