By Kolawole Ojebisi
A former governor of Jigawa state, Sule Lamido, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu was one of the prominent Nigerians who threw their weights behind former military president, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida’s decision to annul the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
Lamido made the claim while speaking on Arise TV on Saturday.
To buttress his allegation, Lamido added that Tinubu’s mother, Hajia Mogaji mobilized market women from Lagos to Abuja to declare support for Babangida’s annulment of the election.
The former Jigawa State governor also alleged that the National Democratic Coalition, (NADECO), was formed to fight against the late General Sani Abacha and not for the actualization of the June 12 mandate.
He said: “I feel highly entertained by Tinubu’s rhetoric, the way he’s dramatising his role in Nigeria’s democracy.
“Tinubu became relevant and noticeable after Abacha took over the government; before then, he was in the senate while I was the secretary of the party.
“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.
“Tinubu was actively hand-in-glove with Babangida. NADECO was postulation formation to fight Abacha not for June 12.”
Recall that the June 12 election adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the history of Nigeria was won by Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola but was eventually annulled by Babangida.
Tinubu was a prominent member of NADECO, a pro-democracy organization which fought against military dictatorship, particularly during the reign of the late General Sani Abacha.
The Nigeria’s president’s membership of the pro-democracy group, which he often references, boosted his democratic credentials.
