• Tinubu: Criticism won’t distract me from doing what’s right
• Lamido: Why I advised Babangida to resign after June 12 annulment

The ‘ghosts’ of June 12 yesterday refused to remain buried 32 years after as Nigeria’s freest and fairest presidential election became the hot topic at the unveiling of a biography for the second time this year .

In February, former Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), raised some dust in his account of the June 12 debacle when he unveiled his autobiography, ‘A Journey in Service’.

Yesterday, June 12, the country’s democracy day, was in focus again when former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, called on President Bola Tinubu to settle the outstanding N45 billion debt allegedly owed by the Nigerian government to the late Chief MKO Abiola, winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Lamido made this passionate appeal during the public presentation of his new book, ‘Being True To Myself,’ held in Abuja. Speaking during his vote of thanks, he urged the Federal Government to take decisive steps to bring closure to the legacy of June 12 by compensating Abiola’s family .

“I would like to appeal to President Tinubu to close the chapter of June 12. In his book, General Babangida revealed that Abiola won the election,” Lamido said, adding that Abiola had suffered a “double punishment — first, being denied the presidency he won, and second, being owed a massive financial debt by the Federal Government.

“When I went to him (IBB), he said Abiola is being owed N45 billion. Please tell President Tinubu to pay Abiola’s family the N45 billion. When this money is paid, the chapter of June 12 will be closed. It is very important,” Lamido appealed to the Minister of Information, who represented the President at the event .

Lamido’s plea is the latest in the ongoing national conversations about justice and restitution for MKO Abiola, who is widely regarded as a symbol of Nigeria’s democratic struggle and was posthumously honoured as GCFR (Grand Commander of the Federal Republic) by President Buhari in 2018.

On June 12, 1993, Nigeria held a presidential election widely regarded as the country’s freest and fairest. Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) contested against Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC). Abiola secured a significant victory, winning 58.36% of the vote, including in Tofa’s home state of Kano.

Despite the transparent and peaceful conduct of the election, the military regime led by General Babangida annulled the results, citing alleged electoral irregularities. This action led to widespread protests and political unrest across the country. The annulment is considered a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey, symbolising the struggle against military rule and the fight for democratic governance.

However, in February 2025, over three decades after the annulment, Babangida publicly acknowledged that MKO Abiola won the 1993 presidential election.
Lamido further revealed that he told ex-military President, Babangida, to “resign and leave office” following his annulment of the June 12 presidential election and the subsequent formation of an interim government.

He disclosed this in an excerpt of his 487-page book, ‘Being True to Myself’. According to him, he was satisfied with the formation of the interim government, provided it was going to lead to IBB’s exit.

He noted that the choice of former President Olusegun Obasanjo as presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999 was to heal the wounds of the June 12 election annulment.

“In my discussion with Babangida, being the first time we met, he found me genuine, with no pretensions, and even maybe naive. “Then he asked me, “Sule, what do I do?” In my naive and innocent way, I told him frankly, “Sir, you must resign and leave office.”

“Immediately, I said that his countenance changed. I saw fire in his eyes; for some minutes, he was speechless. “The choice of Obasanjo as PDP candidate for the presidential election was to heal the June 12 wound,” excerpts of the book read.

SPEAKING at the book launch, Obasanjo stated that past and present leaders of Nigeria still have an unfinished job in ensuring that the country reaches its full potential.

The former president, who also wrote the forward of the book that chronicles Lamido’s life and political journey, called for sustained nation-building, reminding Lamido and other elder statesmen that their work was far from done.

“The Nigeria you and I worked for, we haven’t gotten there yet,” he said. “And I believe it is the responsibility of all of us to ensure we reach the Nigeria of our dreams. Our job is not finished until it is finished,” he said.

Speaking on his physical attendance at the presentation, Obasanjo said he thought that after writing the foreword, he would be excused from further participation, but Lamido persuaded him to attend.

“I thought that after I wrote the foreword to your magnificent book, you would have excused me from any further ordeal,” Obasanjo said, drawing laughter from the audience. “But being who you are, you got me here—even though I had to cut short my event abroad, where I was looking into the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).”

Obasanjo recalled how Lamido was appointed Foreign Affairs Minister in 1999 after the initial nominee had declined the position. “I selected Sule Lamido because I saw him as the closest to the individual who had declined,” he said. He recounted a conversation between Lamido and the then British Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, who had questioned how well the President knew Lamido before appointing him.

Lamido’s witty response, Obasanjo noted, left Cook wondering whether the President was “a crazy fool or a very clever guy.” “Well, it’s up to Sule to decide which one I was,” Obasanjo added.He also praised Lamido’s integrity and independence, particularly his refusal to submit an undated resignation letter—an accountability measure Obasanjo had requested from all his ministers.

“Sule said to me, ‘You appointed me; I didn’t ask you to. If you find me unworthy, just give me five minutes and I will resign,’” Obasanjo recalled. “I accepted that. And indeed, I never had cause to ask him to resign. He performed admirably.”

Obasanjo also credited Lamido with playing a vital role in restoring Nigeria’s international image following years of military rule, noting his contributions as Foreign Minister.

“Sule was our face to the world. He did a magnificent job,” Obasanjo said. “Within three years, the Queen of Britain came to Nigeria for CHOGM. That was a clear signal that Nigeria had been accepted again.”

The former President also reflected on Lamido’s time as Governor of Jigawa State, noting that his visits to the state revealed a leader still deeply engaged in development and national dialogue.

“He showed me what he was doing. We discussed not only state issues but also national and foreign affairs. I can say, without any shred of doubt, that Sule Lamido performed adequately as Governor,” he said.

MEANWHILE, President Tinubu has pledged to remain focused on driving Nigeria’s development and maintaining national unity, stating that he would not be distracted from doing what is right for the country.

Tinubu made this known through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, during the launch of the autobiography. The President, who was the Grand Guest of the occasion, described Lamido’s autobiography as a significant contribution to Nigeria’s political literature and democratic discourse.

Representing Tinubu, the Minister commended Lamido for his courage, consistency, and principled stance in Nigeria’s political evolution, despite being a staunch opposition figure.

“This is not merely the unveiling of a book,” Idris remarked, “it is the celebration of a life defined by courage, consistency, and commitment to democratic ideals. Alhaji Sule Lamido, though a staunch member of the political opposition and often a critic of the government of President Bola Tinubu, remains one of the strong pillars of Nigeria’s political evolution.”

Tinubu, through the Minister, reiterated his belief in political inclusivity, stressing that opposition is not an act of enmity but a contest of ideas. “Every citizen, regardless of party affiliation, has a seat at the table of national discourse,” he said.

The Minister also lauded the decade-long development of Lamido’s autobiography, describing it as a “labour of resilience” that contributes to preserving Nigeria’s political history. He urged other political veterans to follow Lamido’s example by documenting their experiences for future generations.

Reflecting on the book’s title, “Being True to Myself,” Idris noted that it aptly captures Lamido’s reputation as a blunt and principled politician. He also likened President Tinubu’s leadership qualities to those of Lamido, stating that Tinubu remains true to himself and Nigeria’s core ideals—truth, justice, peace, and shared prosperity.

The Minister emphasised Tinubu’s commitment to steering Nigeria towards growth and macroeconomic stability despite the challenges faced. “Are we saying that we are where we need to be and that there isn’t room for more work to be done? Certainly not. What we are saying is simple: that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated uncommon audacity and vision to set Nigeria on the path of true growth and development,” Idris stated.

“The president welcomes constructive criticism at all times in the spirit of freedom of speech and democratic engagement, but he will also never allow himself to be distracted from doing what is right for Nigeria,” the minister added.

Abdulsalami Abubakar, former head of state and chairman of the occasion, described the book as “another valuable addition” to the growing list of books written by key players and actors in Nigeria’s politics and governance space.

Abubakar, who was represented by Attahiru Jega, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said Lamido tried to record his life account “forthrightly and passionately”.

“As good autobiographies are expected to do, he has given us, the readers, a rich personal account of his life, offering us a unique perspective on his background, experiences, challenges, triumphs, and post-factual reflections and analysis,” he said.

The reviewer was former Senate President Iyorchia Ayu, while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar launched the book. The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, also launched the book.