Former Special Adviser on Political Matters to the immediate-past President Muhammadu Buhari in the office of the Vice President, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, has described the account by former Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, regarding the June 12, 1993 presidential election, as a distortion of history and mischief.
LEADERSHIP recalls that fresh debate had greeted the June 12 struggle when Lamido, then National Secretary of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), alleged that President Bola Tinubu supported the annulment of the June 12 presidential election won by late Chief Moshood Abiola, and was not part of the struggle for the restoration of the mandate.
But, Ojudu, himself an active player in the struggle against the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election, waded into the debate through a social media post titled: “The Complicity We Must Not Forget,” on Monday.
In describing the account as a distortion of history and outright mischief, the former presidential aide said, “We must not allow historical revisionism to take root, especially on an issue as significant as June 12.
“If Lamido, along with Tony Anenih and Abubakar Rimi, had stood firmly for the restoration of that democratic mandate, perhaps the tragedy that followed—the blatant subversion of the people’s will—might have been averted.
“Instead, their complicity gave tacit support to the military establishment, empowering the likes of Generals (Ibrahim Badamasi) Babangida and (Sani) Abacha to carry out what can only be described as political sabotage.”
Ojudu vividly recalled that late Rimi who was Lamido’s political mentor, in dismissing allegations of abandoning the winner of the election, Late Chief Moshood Abiola, at a press conference, claimed that he “didn’t come into politics because of Abiola.”
The former Ekiti Central Senator averred that such statement from late Rimi revealed a staggering lack of commitment to democratic principles at a time when Nigeria stood at a critical crossroads.
“These individuals, whether by inaction or direct collaboration, lent legitimacy to a military junta that had no intention of honouring the democratic will expressed on June 12.
“A major miscalculation by pro-democracy politicians, civil society actors, and even the media was their naive belief in General Sani Abacha’s false assurances. Abacha claimed he was merely stepping in temporarily to remove anti-Abiola elements within the military, and that power would subsequently be transferred to the rightful winner.
“Many, including Late General (Oladipo) Diya, were drawn into this deception and even helped facilitate the transition under this false promise.
“Abacha went as far as offering politicians subordinate roles as deputy administrators under military governors to secure their support. Once he consolidated power, however, he reneged on every commitment, betraying both the democratic movement and the opportunistic politicians who had backed him,” Ojudu noted.
He stated unequivocally that Lamido, his allies in Kano “and others in the so-called progressive camp who failed to back the June 12 mandate”, played a direct role in undermining democracy.
“They should not insult the collective intelligence and memory of Nigerians by attempting to whitewash their roles. June 12 is not just a date, it is a symbol of the Nigerian people’s struggle for justice, equity, and the sanctity of the ballot.
“Any attempt to revise its history is an affront to those who fought and paid dearly for that cause,” Ojudu maintained.
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