- Lamido urges Tinubu to pay; put an end to June 12 injustice
By Peter Salami
Nearly 27 years after the mysterious death of Chief MKO Abiola, a former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, yesterday reignited the financial injustice meted to the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Late Chief MKO Abiola, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to settle a N45 billion debt owed the late businessman and politician by previous military administrations.
Abiola who was the undisputed winner of the 1993 Presidential election died in controversial circumstances on July 7, 1998 in military incarceration, after the election was annulled by the General Ibrahim Babangida military junta.
Family sources say the ₦45 billion debt allegedly owed by the Nigerian federal government to the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola are from claims related to contracts executed by his company, International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT), for the Ministry of Communications during the 1970s.
Lamidi confirmed that following the death of General Murtala Muhammed in 1976, Abiola rsought payment for these contracts, but the military government at the time declined his request. Abiola then appealed to northern emirs to intercede on his behalf, but the military leadership remained unyielding, and successive democratic governments have also failed to pay the family its due.
At the launch of his autobiography, ‘Being True to Myself’ in Abuja yesterday, Lamido said the payment would symbolically and morally close the June 12 struggle and Abiola’s unjust treatment following the annulment of the election.
His words: “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) 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 would 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 concluding, I appeal to President Tinubu to finally close the June 12 chapter.”
Lamido urged the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris, who represented Tinubu, to deliver the message to the President.
Earlier, former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, described Lamido’s autobiography as a candid, insightful reflection on Nigeria’s political journey.
Abubakar, represented by ex-INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, stressed the value of such books in promoting civic awareness and preserving history.
The book was launched by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, with Dr Iyorchia Ayu serving as the reviewer. Ayu described the work as “a personal encounter with power and leadership.”
Other guests included Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa, Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.