Prominent Nigerians have criticized the book launched by former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, titled, 'A Journey in Service.'

In the book launched on Thursday, Babangida detailed that the late MKO Abiola won the June 12, 1993, election which was annulled by his regime.

He also revealed that he wanted Abiola to head the interim government he constituted but the latter was deceived by General Sani Abacha who was the Chief of Defense Staff at the time

The book has, however, been met with knocks from those who believe that people like Babangida shouldn't be talking in public after what their actions did against democracy.

Here's a list of those who have criticized Babangida's new book:

Omoyele Sowore

Former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore slammed Babangida after his book denied he ever had anything to do with the death of the Newsweek Editor, Dele Giwa.

Sowore also slammed the former leader for his role in the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election won by MKO Abiola.

In a post on X, he said, "Today, former Nigerian dictator Ibrahim Babangida will launch his book, which is expected to falsely blame late General Sanni Abacha, another wicked dictator, for the annulment of June 12 elections, on doing so he will be admitting they were free and fair. Babangida's narrative will be totally false as his life and times have always been!

"Don’t forget Babangida killed journalist Dele Giwa via parcel bomb in 1986. He murdered several military officers and bosom friends in phantom coup d’etat, he crashed a plane filled with military officers, he stole billions from the Nigerian national treasury, destroyed the Nigerian economy through SAP and introduced a fake transition program that he personally aborted in 1993. As usual he will blame someone else for all these."

Chidi Odinkalu

Human rights activist and lawyer, Chidi Odinkalu, said Babangida's book is filled with allegations against dead men and women.

In a post on X, he said Babangida waited until they were all dead and none of them could controvert him l, adding that he portrayed himself as a victim of all these dead men and women.

"This damns him even more than he already was as lacking in character," he said.

Odinkalu further stated, "The only question that must be pursued by those interested must be how a man so devoid of character and values was allowed to travel so far in the military to the point where, for a generation, he cld routinely pick and choose at his whim which soldier cld or shd rule #Nigeria.

"Conveniently, Babangida, a committed record-keeper, cld not produce any contemporaneous records, minutes, notes or other evidence to corroborate any of the serious claims and allegations he makes about these dead men and women. All hail the Grand Commander of the Order of Cowardice!"

Dele Farotimi

Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, lamented that someone like Babangida could still be making public appearances all because of the forgetful nature of Nigerians.

He shared on X, "MKO on my mind. To die for a people devoid of memory, is to be killed over and over, again and again. In a place inhabited by the conscious, IBB would not dare to show his face in public. But in the crime scene that doubles as our country, having been succeeded by even more villainous ruiners, Badamasi is installed in the seat of the statesman. Tueh."

Afenifere

The Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has said Babangida's public admission of MKO Abiola’s victory did not absolve him and his associates of the irreversible damage the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election had caused.

Afenifere, in a statement by its Organising Secretary, Kole Omololu, said, “His belated acknowledgement that the election was indisputably free, fair, and credible merely reaffirms what Nigerians have known for over three decades—that Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola was the rightful winner of that historic election.

“However, this long-overdue confession cannot exonerate Babangida and his associates from the monumental betrayal inflicted upon the nation."

ASA