Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has made a bold claim against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alleging that the current Nigerian leader was among those who supported the annulment of the historic June 12, 1993 presidential election.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Saturday, Lamido challenged widely accepted narratives about Tinubu’s involvement in Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement. According to the former governor, President Tinubu only rose to national political relevance after General Sani Abacha seized power and was not at the forefront of the struggle to validate the electoral mandate of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled election.
“Tinubu became relevant and noticeable after Abacha took over the government,” Lamido asserted. “Before that time, he was just a senator and party secretary.”
Lamido did not stop at questioning Tinubu’s personal role. He also accused Tinubu’s late mother, Hajia Abibatu Mogaji, of actively supporting the annulment. According to him, Mogaji allegedly mobilized market women in Lagos to travel to Abuja and express support for General Ibrahim Babangida, the military ruler who cancelled the June 12 election results.
“His own mother, Hajia Mogaji, was organizing Lagos market women to come to Abuja to pledge support for Babangida,” Lamido alleged during the televised interview.
Lamido Questions NADECO’s True Origins
The former governor also took aim at the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which has often been credited with leading the resistance against the military’s suppression of democratic values following the annulment.
Lamido argued that NADECO was not originally formed to defend the sanctity of June 12 or restore Abiola’s mandate. Instead, he claimed, the coalition came into existence primarily as a response to Abacha’s dictatorship, rather than as a dedicated platform to challenge Babangida’s annulment of the election.
“NADECO was a postulation formation to fight Abacha, not for June 12,” he insisted.
Background: The June 12 Crisis
The June 12, 1993 presidential election is widely regarded as the most transparent and credible election in Nigeria’s history. The vote, which saw Chief MKO Abiola leading by a wide margin, was annulled by then-military head of state, General Babangida, sparking widespread national protests and a prolonged democratic struggle.
Abiola’s subsequent arrest and death in detention under the regime of General Abacha only deepened the political crisis and reinforced the symbolism of June 12 as a rallying point for democratic activists.
Over the years, President Tinubu has consistently portrayed himself as one of the prominent voices in the fight for democracy, particularly as a member of NADECO. He has also championed June 12 as Nigeria’s official Democracy Day a recognition first formalized under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Implications of Lamido’s Remarks
Lamido’s allegations are likely to provoke strong reactions, particularly from pro-democracy advocates and supporters of President Tinubu. His comments challenge the foundation of the president’s political legacy and could reignite debates over who truly fought for the nation’s democratic restoration during one of its darkest political chapters.
As Nigeria continues to reflect on its journey from military dictatorship to civilian rule, Lamido’s remarks could trigger deeper scrutiny of the roles played by prominent figures especially those who now occupy the highest levels of political power.
Post a Comment