Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has made controversial claims that President Bola Tinubu was among those who supported the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election by former military president Ibrahim Babangida.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Saturday, Lamido alleged that Tinubu's mother, Hajia Mogaji, organized market women from Lagos to travel to Abuja to demonstrate support for then-Head of State Ibrahim Babangida.
"I feel highly entertained by Tinubu's rhetoric, the way he's dramatising his role in Nigeria's democracy," Lamido stated. "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."
The former governor further claimed that the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), widely regarded as a pro-democracy group that fought for the actualization of the June 12 mandate, was actually formed to oppose General Sani Abacha's regime rather than to fight for the June 12 cause.
"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," Lamido alleged.
"Tinubu was actively hand-in-glove with Babangida. NADECO was postulation formation to fight Abacha not for June 12," he added.
Historical Context
The June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely considered Nigeria's freest and fairest election at the time, was won by business mogul Bashorun MKO Abiola but was subsequently annulled by the Babangida military regime, triggering widespread protests and political crisis.
President Tinubu has consistently positioned himself as a key figure in the struggle for the actualization of the June 12 mandate and Nigeria's return to democracy, a narrative that Lamido's claims directly challenge.
As of the time of this report, the presidency has not responded to Lamido's allegations.
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