Presidency replies Sule Lamido, explains Tinubu's role in June 12 struggle

The attention of the presidency has been drawn to recent comments made by Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State, on live television, in which he falsely accused President Bola Tinubu of supporting the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

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Mr Lamido’s claims represent a distortion of history and a regrettable attempt at revisionism. He alleged that President Tinubu only rose to prominence after the formation of NADECO and claimed that Mr Tinubu’s mother, Abibatu Mogaji, mobilised market women to back the annulment. These allegations are patently false.

Let us set the record straight: Mrs Mogaji never mobilised market women to support the unjust annulment. Had she done so, she would have lost her position as market leader in Lagos. While she once had a personal relationship with then-President Babangida, this was before the annulment crisis.

It is important to remind Nigerians that Mr Lamido, as secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SDP)—the party whose candidate, MKO Abiola, won the June 12 election—was among those who failed to oppose the military’s injustice. The SDP leadership, including Mr Lamido and chairman Tony Anenih, wrote their names in the book of infamy by surrendering the people’s mandate without resistance. To their eternal shame, Messrs Lamido and Anenih teamed up with the defeated National Republican Convention to deny Abiola his mandate.

In sharp contrast, Bola Tinubu stood firm even before General Abacha dissolved the political parties and all democratic institutions, including the National Assembly, on 17 November 1993, following his coup.

Days after Mr Babangida addressed the Senate and announced his decision to step aside on 27 August 1993, the setting up of an interim government to replace him, senators debated the speech. On the Senate floor on 19 August 1993, Mr Tinubu unequivocally condemned the annulment, describing it as another coup d’état and urging Nigerians to reject injustice and lawlessness.

The records captured his contribution, showing that he supported upholding the June 12 election, not against it, as Mr Lamido claimed.

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“We have a situation that suggests that the abortion of the June 12 election is another coup d’etat,” Mr Tinubu said. “My question is, when are we going to stop tolerating injustices, coup d’etat and abuse by the people on whom we invested so much resources—the public funds of this country?… Yes, it is true that we have a crisis, but for every action, there must be a reaction. This is a self-inflicted crisis because, without the abortion or annulment of the June 12 election, there would be no crisis like this. We have a government that made the law and abused its law. Therefore, the present military administration, by virtue of abrogation and violation of its own decree, has committed a crime,” the senator from Lagos West told his colleagues.

The election winner, Mr Abiola, was out of the country when the legislators debated Mr Babangida’s offer to step aside for an interim government. He returned in September 1993. And who followed him to the Abacha military group, then openly planning a coup against the Ernest Shonekan-led ING? It was Mr Tinubu. Photographs exist today, showing Mr Tinubu behind Messrs Abiola and Abacha.

Mr bacha took over on 17 November 1993, and dissolved all democratic institutions, including governors, the National Assembly, and the state legislature. Mr Tinubu and a group of senators reconvened in Lagos, defying the junta. Mr Tinubu, Ameh Ebute, Abu Ibrahim, and others were arrested and kept at Alagbon. The police took them to court and fabricated a case against them. While in police detention, Mr Tinubu continued to fund pro-June 12 protests in Lagos, including the blockade of the Third Mainland Bridge.

Weeks after Mr Abacha supplanted the ING, it quickly became clear to Messrs Abiola and Tinubu that Mr Abacha would not be a soldier of democracy as he reneged on allowing Abiola to reclaim his mandate.

Enter the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). It was born on 15 May 1994. Comprising a broad coalition of Nigerian democrats, it called on the military government of Sani Abacha to step down in favour of the winner of the 12 June 1993, election, MKO Abiola. On the first anniversary of his election, Mr Abiola made a declaration at Epetedo in Lagos, announcing himself as the duly elected president. Ten days after, on 22 June, he was arrested, following which many pro-democracy activists also escaped from Nigeria, including Bola Tinubu. Mr Tinubu lived in exile for nearly five years while Mr Lamido and his ilk made deals with Mr Abacha. While Mr Tinubu was away, agents of the junta bombed his home in Balarabe Musa Crescent, Victoria Island.

Thankfully, Mr Lamido admitted that Tinubu played a significant role in NADECO. Indeed, Mr Tinubu did more. He also backed Professor Wole Soyinka’s NALICON, offering material resources to fuel the struggle.

It is well-known that Mr Tinubu played a leading role in the agitation against the June 12 annulment. Many NADECO leaders and journalists in exile and at home openly admitted that Mr Tinubu sustained them and provided them with funds for the struggle.

With his narrative, Mr Lamido appeared confused about the role of NADECO. It was an offshoot of the 12 June crisis. NADECO provided a platform to channel the struggle. Hitherto, all the resistance was left to civil rights groups, journalists, and a section of labour, such as NUPENG.

It is thus disappointing that Mr Lamido, despite acknowledging Mr Tinubu’s NADECO role, would attempt to rewrite history for political reasons and being a member of the Coalition of the Disgruntled.

We advise Mr Lamido to check his facts before going on television to spread falsehoods. It does not help his image, and the coalition he belongs to engages in revisionism. Revisionism does not serve the cause of truth or our nation’s interests.

We do not want to believe that Mr Lamido suffers from what psychologists call tall poppy syndrome. However, the conclusion is inevitable as it appears that Mr Lamido is envious of Mr Tinubu’s democratic credentials. The facts remain clear: President Tinubu was—and remains—a steadfast advocate for democracy, in contrast to the record of Mr Lamido and others who capitulated in the face of military oppression and intimidation.

BAYO ONANUGA

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)

June 22, 2023