Sule Lamido, a former governor of Jigawa State, has claimed that President Bola Tinubu did not participate in the early pro-democracy opposition that followed and instead backed the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
In an interview with Arise Television on Saturday, Lamido said that Tinubu, who was a senator for the Social Democratic Party at the time of the election, was “a major supporter” of General Ibrahim Babangida, the previous military ruler who cancelled the election.
“ Luckily, we were all alive. We were all there and participants in that affair of political history. I was in the middle of it.
“Tinubu became relevant and noticeable after Abacha took over the government.” Lamido said.
“With all respect to him, he was part of those people who supported Babangida’s annulment of June 12.
“He was part of them.
“His own mother, Haija Mogaji from Lagos, organised the Lagos market women to Abuja to support Babangida.
“I’m saying this because it is history. I mean no harm or disrespect.”
Lamido added that he found Tinubu’s public remarks about his role in the democratic struggle unconvincing.
“I feel highly entertained by Tinubu’s rhetoric. The way he is dramatising his role in Nigerian democracy.
”He was actively hand-in-glove with Babangida.
“Tinubu, after being Nigerian president, decided to rewrite and deconstruct history. It is very amusing.
“He was part of Babangida’s supporters on June 12.
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“It was when Abacha took over the government that Tinubu became the so-called activist of June 12.”
Lamido also criticised members of the National Democratic Coalition, which Tinubu later joined, saying they only emerged after General Sani Abacha seized power.
“All those NADECO (activists), where were they on June 11?
“They were not part of the June 12 campaign and activities.
“He was a major supporter of Babangida,” he said.
He added that Tinubu fled the nation while he and others remained to oppose the military.
Lamido stated, “Tinubu fled the country.”
He ended by voicing his political disapproval of the president and stating that he is willing to work with others to unseat Tinubu in the general election of 2027.
