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Presidency To Lamido: You Falsely Accuse Tinubu In June 12 Roles

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.

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Photographs exist today, showing Tinubu behind Abiola and Abacha.

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.

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Politics

Plateau PDP elects new chair, 38 other officials

In his remarks, the State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, tasked the new executives to work towards leading the party to victory in the 2027 general elections.

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The Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has elected a new chairman alongside 38 other executive members.

Raymond Dabo emerged chairman of the party in the state at the congress held at the weekend in Jos which drew delegates from the 17 local government areas of the state.

Chairman of the Electoral Committee, David Embughadu, who declared Raymond Dabo as the winner said he scored 2,162 votes.

Similarly, Gyang Tanko emerged deputy chairman with 2,102 votes, while Michael Dachom was elected the secretary and Felix Choji publicity secretary.

The new chairman in his acceptance speech pledged to be transparent, and run an all-inclusive and reconciliatory administration.

He said his executive would embark on a statewide reconciliation and engage party leaders and members across all wards and local government areas.

In his remarks, the State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, tasked the new executives to work towards leading the party to victory in the 2027 general elections.

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N/Assembly C’ttee Approves Six New States Creation

The joint committee considered a total of 69 bills, 55 state creation requests, two boundary adjustments, and 278 local government creation requests during the retreat.

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A Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Constitution Review has approved the creation of six new states in the country.

The resolution was reached, weekend , at a two-day retreat, co-chaired by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu.

The joint committee considered a total of 69 bills, 55 state creation requests, two boundary adjustments, and 278 local government creation requests during the retreat.

Recently, the agitations for the creation of new states and local government areas dominated the space during recent public hearings on constitution review in the country.

Representatives Committees had conducted public hearings in the six geo-political zones of the country to get inputs from various stakeholders to enable the lawmakers effect amendments to the 1999 Constitution.

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Ekiti 2026: 885 delegates to pick APC Gov candidate

Though four aspirants obtained the APC expression of interest and nomination forms, Governor Biodun Oyebanji is the sole candidate in the race following the disqualification and withdrawal of other aspirants.

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No fewer than 885 delegates drawn from across the 16 local government areas of Ekiti states are expected to participate in Monday’s All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary elections.

The exercise, which will take place at the popular Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital will determine the party’s flag bearer for the June 20, 2026 governorship election.

The delegates were elected on Saturday during the party’s delegates congress across the 177 wards in the 16 local government areas of the state.

Five delegates emerged from each ward during the peaceful exercise supervised by officials of APC National secretariat led by Mr. Jaret Tenebe, the Chairman of the Delegates Congress Committee and Edo APC chairman in the presence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies.

Though four aspirants obtained the APC expression of interest and nomination forms, Governor Biodun Oyebanji is the sole candidate in the race following the disqualification and withdrawal of other aspirants.

Those who obtained nomination forms include Oyebanji, Engr. Kayode Ojo, Mrs Oluremi Omolayo, and Mrs Olajumoke Abimbola.

After the screening, only Oyebanji and Omolayo were cleared to contest, while Ojo and Olajumoke were disqualified for failing to meet the mandatory threshold of the required five valid nominators per local government as enshrined in the provisions of the APC constitution.Omolayo later stepped down from the race, pledging support for Governor Oyebanji.

(From The Nation)

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