The Presidency on Sunday said that Sule Lamido, a former Governor of Jigawa State, was twisting the facts about the historic June 12, 1993, presidential election.
In a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, the Presidency described Lamido’s recent comments as misleading and untrue. The statement, titled “Setting the record straight: President Tinubu’s role in the June 12 struggle,” responded to remarks made by Lamido during a televised interview.
During the interview, Lamido claimed that Tinubu only gained public attention after becoming part of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). He also suggested that both Tinubu and his late mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, were not firmly against the annulment of the election won by MKO Abiola.
Lamido questioned Tinubu’s contribution to the pro-democracy fight and further said he was open to supporting efforts to unseat Tinubu in 2027.
The Presidency responded firmly, saying Lamido’s account is not supported by historical records. It noted that President Tinubu has always been a committed figure in Nigeria’s democratic journey, especially during the dark days following the cancellation of the June 12 election.
It said, “We do not want to believe that Alhaji Lamido suffers from what psychologists call tall poppy syndrome.
“However, the conclusion is inevitable as it appears that Lamido is envious of Tinubu’s democratic credentials.
“The facts remain clear: President Tinubu was—and remains—a steadfast advocate for democracy, in contrast to the record of Lamido and others who capitulated in the face of military oppression and intimidation.”
It continued, “It is thus disappointing that Alhaji Lamido, despite acknowledging Tinubu’s NADECO role, would attempt to rewrite history for political reasons and being a member of the Coalition of the Disgruntled.”
The Presidency further faulted Lamido’s allegation that Tinubu’s mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, mobilised market women to support the annulment.
“Let us set the record straight: 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. While she once had a personal relationship with then-President Babangida, this was before the annulment crisis,” the statement said.
Onanuga also berated Lamido’s record as a member of the Social Democratic Party leadership, accusing him and others of failing to defend the mandate of the presumed winner, MKO Abiola.
He said, “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.
“To their eternal shame, Lamido and Anenih teamed up with the defeated National Republican Convention to deny Abiola his mandate.”
The Presidency further backed its claims with historical records of Tinubu’s resistance to the annulment, including a Senate speech made on August 19, 1993, where Tinubu denounced the military’s decision.
The statement quoted Tinubu as a senator to have said during the period: “We have a situation that suggests that the abortion of the June 12 election is another coup d’etat.
“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 Presidency also recalled Tinubu’s detention under the Abacha regime, his financial and political contributions to the National Democratic Coalition, and his years in exile while Lamido, it said, “made deals” with the military.
“While Tinubu was away, agents of the junta bombed his home in Balarabe Musa Crescent, Victoria Island,” the statement added.
It said with his narrative, Lamido had misunderstood the role of NADECO, which it described as an offshoot of the June 12 crisis.
“It is thus disappointing that Alhaji Lamido, despite acknowledging Tinubu’s NADECO role, would attempt to rewrite history for political reasons and being a member of the coalition of the Disgruntled.
“We advise 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,” the Presidency concluded.
