DRAMA: ‘You surrendered to Abacha, Tinubu resisted’ — Presidency fires back at Lamido

The Presidency has strongly refuted claims by former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, alleging that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu supported the annulment of the historic June 12, 1993 presidential election.

 

In a statement titled “Setting the Record Straight” issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the Presidency described Lamido’s comments as “a regrettable attempt at revisionism.”

 

Lamido, while appearing on a live television programme, claimed Tinubu only rose to prominence after the formation of NADECO and alleged that his mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, mobilised market women in support of the annulment.

 

The Presidency dismissed these claims as entirely false.

 

“Let us set the record straight: Alhaja Mogaji never mobilised market women to support the unjust annulment,” Onanuga clarified.

 

“Had she done so, she would have lost her position as market leader in Lagos.”

 

Onanuga noted that while Alhaja Mogaji once had a cordial relationship with former President Ibrahim Babangida, it predated the annulment crisis.

 

In a sharp rebuttal of Lamido’s own June 12 credentials, Onanuga said: “As secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SDP)—the very party whose candidate, MKO Abiola, won the election—Lamido did nothing to oppose the military’s injustice. Instead, he and then-SDP chairman Tony Anenih capitulated and betrayed the people’s mandate.”

 

By contrast, he said, Tinubu stood firmly in defence of democracy even before General Sani Abacha dismantled all political structures.

 

Onanuga recalled Tinubu’s August 19, 1993 speech on the Senate floor, days before Babangida stepped down: “We have a situation that suggests the abortion of the June 12 election is another coup d’etat… We have a government that made the law and abused its law. Therefore, the present military administration… has committed a crime.”

 

He said following Abacha’s takeover, Tinubu and other pro-democracy senators regrouped in Lagos, defying the junta as they were arrested and detained.

 

According to Onanuga, while in detention, Tinubu reportedly funded June 12 protests, including the blockage of the Third Mainland Bridge.

 

“Tinubu continued to back the struggle, even in exile,” Onanuga stated.

 

“His house in Victoria Island was bombed by the junta’s agents, and he still provided material support to NADECO and Professor Wole Soyinka’s NALICON.”

 

He also accused Lamido of political envy, stating: “We do not want to believe that Alhaji Lamido suffers from tall poppy syndrome. But it appears he is envious of Tinubu’s democratic credentials.”

 

Onanuga urged Lamido to verify facts before making public statements.

 

“Revisionism does not serve the cause of truth or our nation’s interest,” he said, adding that “President Tinubu remains a steadfast advocate for democracy, unlike those who cowered before military oppression.”

 

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