Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North Senatorial District, has urged former military president Ibrahim Babangida to disclose the identities of individuals responsible for the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

In his recently launched memoir, Babangida acknowledged that late Chief MKO Abiola won the election conducted 32 years ago.

Senator Kalu expressed anticipation for a second volume of Babangida’s memoir that would address unanswered questions surrounding the annulment.

He stated, “I look forward to the second edition of Babangida’s book because the first did not reveal all the realities. I was present during the events of June 12, and I know what happened. Babangida should call out the names of those responsible for preventing the election declaration.”

Also, Senator Kalu called on President Bola Tinubu to officially recognise the late MKO Abiola as one of Nigeria’s past presidents. He proposed that Abiola’s portrait be placed alongside those of other former leaders in the Presidential Villa.

He commended former President Muhammadu Buhari for conferring a posthumous national honour on Abiola but emphasised the need for further recognition.

“Since Abiola won, his picture should be placed among Nigeria’s past presidents. I commend former President Buhari for giving him a national honour, but I also appeal to President Tinubu to officially recognise him and place his image where it belongs. This would help bring succour to his family,” Kalu added.

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Spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

Uwujaren was referring to Jolly Nyame and Joshua Dariye, both former two-term governors of Taraba and Plateau, respectively.

Uwujaren stated that the convictions had “put a lie to the often repeated charge by critics and cynics that the EFCC (the prosecutor) is lukewarm in prosecuting chieftains of the ruling party for corruption’’.

He said, “Both trials had been ongoing for 11 years and towards the end of the proceedings, the two convicts changed their political camps, moving from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling APC.

“Dariye, who won election into the Senate on the platform of the PDP, decamped to the ruling APC at a critical phase of his trial, when the prosecution had called all its vital witnesses and conviction appeared imminent.

“Not surprisingly, this fuelled speculation that the gambit was a calculated move to stave off imminent conviction.

“But rather than slow proceedings, his trial accelerated, forcing the defence to close its case, thus setting the stage for the judgment of June12.”

The EFCC spokesman said Mr Mohammed Dakingari, a former Accountant-General of Kebbi and member of the APC was also convicted of corruption and sentenced to 70 years in prison.

He added that former Gov. Orji Kalu of Abia was still undergoing prosecution in court by the EFCC even after crossing to the APC.

The commission, according to him, has closed its case in that matter after calling several witnesses.

“But, rather than open his defence, Kalu elected to file a ‘no case submission’.

“It will be up to the court to determine whether the commission has presented enough evidence to warrant him to enter his defence.

“From these cases, Nigerians can now appreciate the fact that the EFCC is apolitical, blind to the political colours and affiliations of crime suspects.

“It will be foolhardy for any politically-exposed person under prosecution to think that mere change of political affiliation will guarantee immunity from prosecution.

“Rather than entertain idle gossips who thrive on haranguing the EFCC with charges of selectivity, these two recent convictions offer Nigerians the opportunity to better appreciate the efforts and sacrifices of the commission.”

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