Dele Alake, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, has pushed back against recent remarks by former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido about the aftermath of the 12th of June, 1993, presidential election annulment.
During an appearance on Arise TV on Sunday, Alake rejected Lamido’s version of events, describing it as “hagiography and an attempt at revisionism.” He insisted that President Bola Tinubu played an active and early role in opposing the annulment.
Lamido had previously alleged that Tinubu supported the annulment and did not initially align with pro-democracy movements that emerged in its wake.
Alake, who said he witnessed the events firsthand, revisited the timeline leading up to the political unrest.
He pointed out that the first major shock came onthe 16th of June, 1993 just four days after the election when results were abruptly suspended.
“Everybody knew MKO Abiola was coasting home to victory,” Alake stated.
He recalled visiting Abiola’s residence in Ikeja, Lagos, where the presumed winner was already settling debts, saying, “He didn’t want to get into the presidency with debt.”
The situation escalated on the 23rd of June, when the election results were officially canceled, igniting a national crisis.
According to Alake, Tinubu immediately stepped into the fray after the annulment.
He shared an incident where Tinubu secured clearance for MKO Abiola’s plane to land in Katsina, so Abiola could pay his respects to the Yar’Adua family despite the fact that military ruler Ibrahim Babangida was heading there at the same time.
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Alake said that upon returning to Lagos, Abiola turned directly to Tinubu to coordinate the resistance.
“Start the preparations for the onslaught against that unjustified announcement,” Abiola reportedly told Tinubu.
Alake dismissed Lamido’s version of events and questioned his visibility during the critical early phase of the protests.
“I can tell you authoritatively because I was part and parcel of the protest, the planning and execution,” Alake said.
“Tinubu was one of the funders and one of the organisers, one of the planners of all the protests, June, July 23, 24, 25 of 1993 against the annulment,” he added, pointing to Tinubu’s involvement before General Abacha took power.
Alake went on to say that Tinubu remained deeply engaged in the push to reinstate the June 12 mandate after Sani Abacha became head of state on the 17th of November, 1993.
“Asiwaju Tinubu was the one that escorted MKO to go and see Abacha to negotiate how Abacha would relinquish office and hand over to MKO,” Alake explained, noting that he personally witnessed the planning of that meeting the night before.