The Presidency has accused the former governor of Jigawa state of being confused over his allegation that President Bola Tinubu was among the people that supported the annulment of June 12, 1993 election.
The Presidency also said that Alhaji Lamido’s claims
represented a distortion of history and a regrettable attempt at revisionism.
The former Jigawa state governor, had flayed the President
for allegedly rewriting history by saying that Tinubu supported annulment of
June 12 election.
But reacting to the claims in a statement on Sunday titled:
“Setting the record straight: President Tinubu’s role in the June 12 struggle,”
the Presidency faulted the allegations by Alhaji Lamido.
The Presidency also accused Lamido, who is a Chieftain of
the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the late Tony Anenih of teaming up with
the defeated National Republican Convention to deny Chief Moshood Abiola, the
acclaimed winner of the election his mandate.
The statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President
on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, read: “The attention of the
Presidency has been drawn to recent comments made by Alhaji Sule Lamido, former
Governor of Jigawa State, on live television, in which he falsely accused
President Bola Tinubu of supporting the annulment of the June 12, 1993,
presidential election.
“Alhaji Lamido’s claims represent a distortion of history
and a regrettable attempt at revisionism.
“He alleged that President Tinubu only rose to prominence
after the formation of NADECO and claimed that Tinubu’s mother, Alhaja Abibatu
Mogaji, mobilised market women to back the annulment. These allegations are
patently false.
“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.
“It is important to remind Nigerians that Alhaji Lamido, as
secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SDP)—the party whose candidate, MKO
Abiola, won the June 12 election—was among those who failed to oppose the
military’s injustice.
“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.
“In sharp contrast, Senator Bola Tinubu stood firm even
before General Abacha dissolved the political parties and all democratic
institutions, including the National Assembly, on November 17, 1993, following
his coup.”
It continued: “Days after General Babangida addressed the
Senate and announced his decision to step aside on August 27, 1993, the setting
up of an interim government to replace him, Senators debated the speech.
“On the Senate floor on August 19, 1993, Tinubu
unequivocally condemned the annulment, describing it as another coup d’état and
urging Nigerians to reject injustice and lawlessness.
“The records captured his contribution, showing that he supported
upholding the June 12 election, not against it, as Lamido claimed.
“We have a situation that suggests that the abortion of the
June 12 election is another coup d’etat,” Senator Tinubu said. “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 Senator from Lagos
West told his colleagues.”
The Presidency said that the election winner, Abiola, was
out of the country when the legislators debated Babangida’s offer to step aside
for an interim government.
“He returned in September 1993. And who followed him to the
Abacha military group, then openly planning a coup against the Ernest
Shonekan-led ING? It was Tinubu. Photographs exist today, showing Tinubu behind
Abiola and Abacha.
“Abacha took over on November 17, 1993, and dissolved all
democratic institutions, including governors, the National Assembly, and the
state legislature. Tinubu and a group of senators reconvened in Lagos, defying
the junta.
“Tinubu, Ameh Ebute, Abu Ibrahim, and others were arrested
and kept at Alagbon. The police took them to court and fabricated a case
against them. While in police detention, Tinubu continued to fund pro-June 12
protests in Lagos, including the blockade of the Third Mainland Bridge.
“Weeks after Abacha supplanted the ING, it quickly became
clear to Abiola and Tinubu that Abacha would not be a soldier of democracy as
he reneged on allowing Abiola to reclaim his mandate.”
The Presidency further faulted Alhaji Lamido’s claims on the
role played by Tinubu during the struggle.
It said: “Enter the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).
It was born on May 15, 1994. Comprising a broad coalition of Nigerian
democrats, it called on the military government of Sani Abacha to step down in
favour of the winner of the June 12, 1993, election, MKO Abiola.
“On the first anniversary of his election, Abiola made a
declaration at Epetedo in Lagos, announcing himself as the duly elected
president. Ten days after, on June 22, he was arrested, following which many
pro-democracy activists also escaped from Nigeria, including Bola Tinubu.
“Tinubu lived in exile for nearly five years while Lamido
and his ilk made deals with Abacha. While Tinubu was away, agents of the junta
bombed his home in Balarabe Musa Crescent, Victoria Island.
“Thankfully, Lamido admitted that Tinubu played a
significant role in NADECO. Indeed, Tinubu did more. He also backed 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 in
exile and at home openly admitted that Tinubu sustained them and provided them
with funds for the struggle.
“With his narrative, Lamido appeared confused about the role
of NADECO. It was an offshoot of the June 12 crisis. NADECO provided a platform
to channel the struggle. Hitherto, all the resistance was left to civil rights
groups, journalists, and a section of labour, such as NUPENG.
“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.
“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.”
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