Close June 12 Chapter By Paying N45bn Debt Owed Abiola’s Family, Lamido Tells Tinubu

Former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has asked President Bola Tinubu to close the chapter of June 12 by paying the N45 billion debt owed to the family of the late winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola.

Lamido was national secretary of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) which Abiola contested the election. Tinubu was also a close ally of Abiola and emerged senator on the party’s platform.

Lamido, who made the call at the launch of his autobiography “Being True to Myself” held in Abuja, on Tuesday, said the payment of the money would provide moral and symbolic closure to the June 12 struggle and Abiola’s unjust treatment after the annulment of the election which he won.

“When (General) Murtala (Muhammed) died, Abiola came in with a claim that he was owed, I think, about N45 billion for contracts executed by International Telephone and Telecommunication for the Ministry of Communications. The military high command at that time said no. He went round the Emirs in the North to lobby and the emirs asked that they (military) should please pay the money.

“They (military) said they cancelled the June 12 elections because if they made him President, he would take his money and the country will become bankrupt. Those who were close to Abacha should know this, because Abacha was then one of the big shots; they were all aware.

“Before I end my remarks, I want to appeal to President Tinubu to finally close the chapter of June 12,” Lamido said. “In his book, General Ibrahim Babangida acknowledged that Abiola won the election. When I visited him, he also confirmed that Abiola is owed N45 billion. He was doubly punished: first, denied the presidency; second, denied what is owed to him.”

Addressing the minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris Malagi, who represented the president Tinubu at the event, Lamido said “Please tell the president to pay the Abiola family the N45 billion. Once this is done, the June 12 chapter will be closed. It is very important,” he said.

For his part, former head of state, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, said “We all have a role to play to forge unity, engender peaceful coexistence, and contribute to progress and development in our country, Nigeria.”

Represented by former chairman of the Independent National Election Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, the former head of state said, “The better informed we are, the better the chances of our collective contribution towards sustainable socio-economic development in our country.”

He added that the book is full of insights and wisdom, adding that the author navigated his childhood memories, career path, life trajectory, and personal lessons from his private and public relationships and life experiences.