The Presidency has rebutted claims made by former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, suggesting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu supported the annulment of the historic June 12, 1993 presidential election.
It described Lamido’s statements made during a live television appearance as “a distortion of history” and “a regrettable attempt at revisionism.”
Lamido had alleged that Tinubu only gained prominence after the formation of the pro-democracy group NADECO and claimed that Tinubu’s mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, mobilised support for the annulment. But the Presidency dismissed these claims as “patently false.”
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy “Alhaja 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.”
He clarified that her past relationship with then Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, was personal and had no bearing on the events surrounding the annulment.
The statement further accused Lamido, who served as Secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) at the time, of failing to oppose the military’s actions.
“The SDP leadership, including Lamido and chairman Tony Anenih, wrote their names in the book of infamy by surrendering the people’s mandate without resistance,” Onanuga said.
Citing records from the Senate sitting of August 19, 1993, the Presidency highlighted Tinubu’s vocal opposition to the annulment. As the Senator representing Lagos West, Tinubu had described the annulment as “another coup d’état” and condemned the military’s “abuse of power.”
“Without the abortion or annulment of the June 12 election, there would be no crisis like this,” Tinubu had said during the Senate debate, urging Nigerians not to tolerate injustice.
The statement also recalled Tinubu’s pro-democracy actions after General Sani Abacha seized power in November 1993.
It noted that Tinubu, along with Senators Ameh Ebute, Abu Ibrahim and others, defied the junta by reconvening in Lagos, an act which led to their arrest and detention at Alagbon Police Station.
Tinubu’s financial and logistical support for protests such as the blockade of the Third Mainland Bridge and his eventual exile were also emphasized.
“While Lamido and his ilk made deals with Abacha, Tinubu fled the country and continued to support the struggle from abroad,” the statement said.
The statement credited Tinubu with playing a leading role in both NADECO and Professor Wole Soyinka’s NALICON, offering “material resources to fuel the struggle.”
“It is well-known that Tinubu played a leading role in the agitation against the June 12 annulment. Many NADECO leaders and journalists, both in exile and at home, admitted that Tinubu sustained them,” Onanuga added.
The Presidency criticized Lamido’s narrative, accusing him of deliberately downplaying Tinubu’s role for political reasons.
“We do not want to believe that Alhaji Lamido suffers from what psychologists call tall poppy syndrome,” Onanuga said, suggesting envy may be driving Lamido’s public statements.
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