Obasanjo Attributes Annulment Of June 12 Presidential Election To “Bad Belle”

Former Nigeria President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has attributed the annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, widely believed to have been won by late Moshood Kashimawo (MKO) Abiola to what he called “bad belle.” In metaphorical sense of Nigerian pidgin English, ‘bad belle’ means jealousy.

The election was annulled by the then reining military President, General Ibrahim Babangida.

Obasanjo said that the annulment robbed Egbaland and Ogun state the rare privilege of having three of its prominent sons occupying the number one seat at different times. Apart from Obasanjo, Chief Ernest Shonekan, a former Head of Interim National Government is another ex-Nigerian leader from Ogun state.

Speaking today, April 11 in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, Obasanjo  said: “I want to thank the club for this honour being bestowed on me and the honour being bestowed on my school mate MKO Abiola which he richly deserved.

“If not for bad belle, Abeokuta would have produced President of Nigeria three times, in which case we should have kept it permanently.

“But be that as it may, we have a great heritage. And we should be proud of our heritage.”

Obasanjo was honoured with an investiture as a trustee of the Abeokuta Club, a socio-cultural organization of the Egba people. He was honoured alongside MKO Abiola who was awarded a posthumous vice-patron of the club.