By Kolawole Ojebisi
A former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has revealed how former Nigeria’s Military President, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, reacted to his advice following his regime’s annulment of the historic June 12, 1993 election won by the late Moshood Kashimawo Abiola.
Lamide stated that he had advised Babangida to “resign and leave office” in the face of public outrage that greeted the ex-military dictator’s decision.
He, however, stressed that his proposition did not sit well with the man popularly known as IBB.
He disclosed this in an excerpt of his 487-page book, ‘Being True to Myself,’ unveiled in Abuja on Tuesday.
“In my discussion with Babangida, being the first time we met, he found me genuine, with no pretensions, and even maybe naive.
“Then he asked me, “Sule, what do I do?” In my naive and innocent way, I told him frankly, “Sir, you must resign and leave office.”
“Immediately I said that his countenance changed. I saw fire in his eyes; for some minutes he was speechless.” Lamido wrote in his autobiography.
The ex-governor also said that the presidency was deliberately zoned to the South, particularly the Southwest, to assuage the attendant pain of the June 12 election.
“The choice of Obasanjo as PDP candidate for the presidential election was to heal the June 12 wound,” excerpts of the book read.
Recall that Babangida admitted in his recently launched memoir, ‘A Journey In Service’ that Abiola won the June 12 1993 election.
Recall also, that an Interim National Government headed by Abiola’s tribesman, Ernest Shonekan, was subsequently formed following the annulment.
Lamido, in his book, said he was satisfied with the formation of the interim government, provided it was going to lead to IBB’s exit.
The book launch witnessed an impressive turnout of eminent Nigerians including President Bola Tinubu, represented by Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed, Obasanjo, former head of state General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), and former Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega, spoke at the event.
The reviewer was former Senate President Iyorchia Ayu, while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar launched the book.
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, also launched the book.
