Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has accused President Bola Tinubu of supporting the annulment of the historic June 12, 1993, presidential election, won by the late Moshood Abiola.
In an interview on Arise Television, Lamido claimed that Tinubu’s late mother, Hajia Abibatu Mogaji, mobilised Lagos market women to Abuja to express solidarity with then military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida, after he nullified the election.
“I feel highly entertained by Tinubu’s rhetoric, the way he’s dramatising his role in Nigeria’s democracy,” Lamido said, dismissing what he described as the President’s exaggerated narrative about his democratic struggle.
According to Lamido, Tinubu only rose to political prominence after General Sani Abacha’s regime came into power, and had served merely as the secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) during the Senate days.
“Tinubu became relevant and noticeable after Abacha took over the government; before then, he was in the Senate while he was the secretary of the party,” Lamido stated.
He further alleged that Tinubu was “hand-in-glove” with Babangida and that NADECO — the National Democratic Coalition widely credited for resisting Abacha’s dictatorship — was never formed to fight for the June 12 mandate.
“He was part of those who supported IBB’s annulment of the June 12 election. His own mother Hajia Mogaji was organising Lagos market women to come to Abuja to pledge support for Babangida. Tinubu was actively hand-in-glove with Babangida. NADECO was postulated to fight Abacha, not for June 12,” he claimed.
Lamido’s remarks add fresh controversy to the legacy and narrative of Tinubu’s pro-democracy credentials as Nigerians continue to reflect on the historic events surrounding June 12.
