Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has stirred fresh controversy by alleging that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was among those who backed the annulment of the historic June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest poll, won by late business mogul, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Saturday night, Lamido claimed that President Tinubu, who was a senator and Secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) at the time, supported the military junta led by General Ibrahim Babangida in annulling the results of the election.
“Tinubu was part of those who were supporting Babangida’s annulment of June 12,” Lamido stated. “His own mother, Hajiya Mogaji Tinubu, from Lagos, was organizing Lagos market women to come to Abuja to pledge support for Babangida.”
Lamido, a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Foreign Affairs Minister, emphasized that his assertions were based on historical facts rather than personal animosity. He maintained that his intention was not to embarrass the president but to correct what he sees as a misrepresentation of Tinubu’s role in Nigeria’s democratic history.
“I feel highly entertained by Tinubu’s rhetoric, the way he’s dramatising his role in Nigeria’s democracy. Tinubu became relevant and noticeable after Abacha took over the government; before then, he was just in the Senate,” Lamido remarked.
The former governor also expressed his willingness to align with any political coalition aimed at removing President Tinubu from office in the 2027 general elections. “I am open to joining any coalition that will bring about a change in 2027. Nigeria deserves better,” he said.
Lamido’s comments are likely to reignite debates over the role of various political figures during the tumultuous period of Nigeria’s transition from military to civilian rule in the early 1990s.
So far, the presidency has not issued a response to the allegations.
Background on June 12 Election
The June 12, 1993, presidential election, in which MKO Abiola was poised to win by a wide margin, was annulled by the then-military ruler, General Babangida, citing electoral irregularities. The annulment sparked nationwide protests and is often cited as a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle. President Tinubu, in recent years, has positioned himself as a key figure in that struggle, particularly during the resistance against the military regime of General Sani Abacha.
As the nation reflects on the legacies of June 12, Lamido’s comments are likely to prompt renewed scrutiny of historical narratives and political alliances from that era.
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