₦airaland Forum

Onanuga counters Lamido

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT: PRESIDENT TINUBU'S ROLE IN THE JUNE 12 STRUGGLE

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.

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 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.

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.

BAYO ONANUGA

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)

June 22, 2023

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CHqw12gz6/

Previous thread https://www.nairaland.com/8456801/tinubu-mother-supported-babangidas-june

Abacha rejected Tinubu's ministerial and commissioner lobbying. This is why Tinubu targeted the Abacha family's properties mere months after rigging his way to power.

The Emi of Lokan is still bitter 30 years after.

The presidency headed by Tinubu is the least qualified to tell us about the role Tinubu played in the June 12 struggle. Of course, they will surely attempt to distort history and spread propaganda.


But there are enough indisputable facts that Tinubu actually betrayed the struggle and secretly sought a commissioner post from Abacha, abandoning the cause in pursuit of his selfish interests.

Pls a good Samaritan should summarize what's written up there... In this APC era I no too get energy to read epistles.

Thank u

I can't rule out that as a Yoruba man. It's our blood. We'll do our findings on this, thanks.

Bi iro ba lo logun odun, otito yi o de ba nijokan.

Kudirat Abiola fought Abacha face to face in Nigeria while Tinubu fled to London to fight Abacha.

Onanuga should have ignored Lamido. The skipping of his medicine is what's making him to be misyarning

The headless mob supporters have already swallowed the bunkum as they dont even aje any political direction

Every well meaning Nigerian knows that Lamido is lying. He is not to be taken serious Lol.

WickedAfonja:
Abacha rejected Tinubu's ministerial and commissioner lobbying. This is why Tinubu targeted the Abacha family's properties mere months after rigging his way to power.

The Emi of Lokan is still bitter 30 years after.

But the Agulu fraud gracefully accepted the position to be one of the board members of the port in Lagos.

While others were fighting for the restoration of democracy back to Nigeria, Peter Obi accepted appointments from Abacha as he never believed in democracy. No wonder he didn't conduct local government election for good 7 years

Lamido is confused he doesn't deserve an answer

Tinubu was nadeco member who went on exile when Abacha was seeking to kill him.

Meanwhile we all know Obi and Atiku were green snake doing the dirty job for Babangida and Abacha.

Can we forget how Obi and his tribesmen were behind the annulment - Arthur Nzeribe come to mind

Sule Lamido is only entertaining Obidients. Haha

To put it in context, Lamido is saying Tinubu, an incumbent Senator of the Federal Republic supported the truncation of his own administration because of the PROMISE of ministerial position under the military regime.?

Only the Obidients have mental capacity to believe something like that. 😂 😂 😂

Picture speaks more than a thousand words. God bless President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, God bless Democracy and God bless Nigeria.


--Kiss the truth!

helinues:
But the Agulu fraud gracefully accepted the position to be one of the board members of the port in Lagos.

While others were fighting for the restoration of democracy back to Nigeria, Peter Obi accepted appointments from Abacha as he never believed in democracy. No wonder he didn't conduct local government election for good 7 years

Your infantile attempts to link Mr. Obi to anti-democratic actions are both false and deeply ironic. Mr. Obi never aligned with military regimes nor compromised democratic principles. In stark contrast, Bola Tinubu’s well-documented approach to General Abacha lobbying for a commissioner post in Lagos during the height of the democratic struggle betrayed the spirit of June 12 and the legacy of MKO Abiola.

Regarding local government elections, Obi inherited a broken system riddled with legal issues. He waited for constitutional clarity and eventually conducted local government council elections before leaving office.

You claim “others were fighting for democracy” of course, when others where fighting for democracy Tinubu was fighting for his own selfish interests.

Obi focused on institution-building, delivering results, and savings. Tinubu, on the other hand, empowered thugs, touts, and agberos, creating a conduit that funneled public funds from the Lagos State treasury into his personal pocket, siphoning and milking the commonwealth of Lagosians for over two decades.

Tinubu has been so desperate for power, so it's not news.

Who doesn't know that Tinubu betrayed Abiola? Go and ask Abiola family, they might not want to talk now due to the fact that Tinubu has rigged himself in as President

I knew the Sule was lying. I didn’t even bother. I just ignored it..

Sule the liar..

PulaPower:
I knew the Sule was lying. I didn’t even bother. I just ignored it..

Sule the liar..

Opinions change, views change and people change too over time bases on exposure and exowribo.

1993 tills date is about 32 years now.

Tinubu only started fight general Sanni Abacha when he discovered too late that he is not ready to relinquish power. Bloody two-faced hypocrite

Tel that to ya yooseless obituarists, afterall theyre hullible to eat any information..but reality says different..
Nothing go stop Tinubu till 2031 ...

Hehe. But he annulled river state election and government

This bros is trying hard to do his job but silence is usually the best answer for the foolish.
Some people don't know that Abiola had a 'good' relationship with IBB and his boys before contesting and winning elections. It's like Dangote having a relationship with the government. Abiola and his boys never esperedit. Now revisionists want to twist history for the gullible and ignorant.

Many things went down after the annulment which is only known to few.

AGROnProperties:
Opinions change, views change and people change too over time bases on exposure and exowribo.

1993 tills date is about 32 years now.

Sule manufactured everything he said in his head..

They never existed... He spoilt the lies himself by mentioning Tinubu’s mom join his manufactured story..

franchasofficia:
Tinubu has been so desperate for power, so it's not news.

Who doesn't know that Tinubu betrayed Abiola? Go and ask Abiola family, they might not want to talk now due to the fact that Tinubu has rigged himself in as President

yes bad belle people, Tinubu betrayed Abiola, then ran away to exile.

Obi became chairman of tin can island port under Abacha.

helinues:
But the Agulu fraud gracefully accepted the position to be one of the board members of the port in Lagos.

While others were fighting for the restoration of democracy back to Nigeria, Peter Obi accepted appointments from Abacha as he never believed in democracy. No wonder he didn't conduct local government election for good 7 years

While your brother Alex shonekan refused to hand over to abiola despite being president. What of diya who was abacha deputy, also adisa, ani, olarenwaju, solenke and many yorubas who served under abacha while abiola was in prison. Obj opposed abiola while yoruba obas collected the limousine abacha shared to traditional rulers. What of shofoluwe who aided abacha hit men in killing kudirat.

favor914:
yes bad belle people, Tinubu betrayed Abiola, then ran away to exile.

Obi became chairman of tin can island port under Abacha.

And Alex shonekan was president. Who had power and opportunity to hand over to abiola. What of diya. So much for yoruba hypocrisy

saintbillion:
Hehe. But he annulled river state election and government

Suspension for just six months.

Abegggggggggggi

June 12 has nothing to do with democracy. It was just power drunk individuals scheming and fighting to be in charge of the most populous black nation on earth

jamafa:
Suspension for just six months.

Abegggggggggggi

Is that an act of Democratic leadership or tyrannic rule?

helinues:
But the Agulu fraud gracefully accepted the position to be one of the board members of the port in Lagos.

While others were fighting for the restoration of democracy back to Nigeria, Peter Obi accepted appointments from Abacha as he never believed in democracy. No wonder he didn't conduct local government election for good 7 years

What do you do for a living? I help people who are in need.