Presidency, Lamido fight over Tinubu’s role on June 12, 1993 election annulment
The Presidency and the former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido are at loggerhead over the role President Bola Tinubu played in June 12, 1993, annulment.
The Presidency has accused Lamido of jealousy and historical revisionism, over his comments on the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency described Lamido’s claims as false.
It noted that the former governor’s version of history distorted Tinubu’s well-documented pro-democracy credentials.
The statement is titled ‘Setting the record straight: President Tinubu’s role in the June 12 struggle.’
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 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.
Lamido had, during a recent interview on Arise TV, claimed that Tinubu only became prominent after joining the National Democratic Coalition and implied that both Tinubu and his mother were sympathetic to the annulment of the June 12 election.
He also downplayed Tinubu’s early resistance against the military, suggesting that his democratic credentials were overstated.
The former governor also said he was ready to be involved in any arrangement to ensure Tinubu was removed from office in 2027.
