One-Time Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, on Monday came under scathing criticism from Solid Minerals Minister Dele Alake. It was over what Alake came Lamido’s inchoate account of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
The former governor had faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s acclaimed role in the crusade to actualise the election, the results of which were annulled by military president Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.
Speaking on a national television on the saga, Lamido claimed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was part of the people who supported the annulment of the election.
According to him, Tinubu’s mother, Hajia Mogaji organised market women from Lagos, to come to Abuja and show support for the then Head of State.
Lamido also claimed that the National Democractic Coalition (NADECO) was formed to fight for the late Gen. Sani Abacha and not June 12.
But Alake berated Lamido, who was the secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), accusing him of teaming up with others to trade off the election won by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola.
Featuring on a national television last night, described Lamido’s claims as tissues of lies from the pit of hell.
He said Tinubu gave everything he had towards the reclaiming of Abiola’s mandate.
“I feel very appalled at his own submissions, which I’ll ascribe largely to amnesia or at the very worst, an impairment of oblongata or memory loss in lame man’s terms.
“Sule Lamido himself was the guilty party to the annulment of that June 12, 1999 election.
“Sule Lamido did not know so many things. He was Secretary of the SDP. Prior to this time, he was posturing as a leftist. The late Tony Anenih was the chairman.
“Unknown to Lamido, Tinubu played a major role in the emergence of MKO as a candidate well before the election.
“There were two factions that formed the nucleus of the SDP.
“One, the Peoples’ Front was led by the late Gen. Musa Yar’Adua, the second, the Peoples Social Party (PSP) was led by the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the late Adekunle Ajasin etc.
“These two caucuses formed the SDP. Tinubu belonged to the Yar’Adua faction. But on the formation of SDP, it became one party.
“The groundswell for MKO to become the candidate of the party at the Jos Convention was overwhelming.
“There was a stalemate. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar also ran as an aspirant in SDP since 1993. Atiku has been at the game since then. Babagana Kingibe ran.
“There was a stalemate in the first ballot between Kingibe and MKO. Then, there was horse trading to get Atiku to drop his ambition and align with the MKO group.
“This same Tinubu was one of the key people that led the negotiations to persuade Atiku to drop his own aspiration and align with MKO. This eventually happened.
“When the second ballot was conducted, it was obvious that MKO coasted home to victory. While that election was going, myself, Tunji Bello, Segun Babatope, were drafting MKO’s speech, which he read.
“After negotiations, the Yar’Adua faction had the upper hand and that was why Lamido became the secretary of the party.
“Then, the campaign for the election began. And Tinubu threw everything he had at it. So, it is totally false to say Tinubu only became popular after the annulment of June 12.
Alake faulted Lamido’s claim that Tinubu supported the cancellation of the election was an attempt to the former Jigawa State governor to cover up his evil deeds.
The minister said: “That is totally false and revisionism; it is an attempt for Lamido to cover his pernicious role in supporting that critical sacred mandate given to MKO.
“Lamido and SDP chairman sold out MKO’s mandate by accepting the National Interim Government (NIG).”
They explained that the late Alhaja Magaji went to plead with late Abacha to restore MKO’s mandate.
