June 12: “Why I Told IBB to His Face to Resign,” Lamido Speaks

• Sule Lamido has narrated his bold confrontation with former head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd), in his autobiography, Being True to Myself, launched on May 13
• The Former Jigawa state governor disclosed that he directly told Babangida to resign during the June 12 crisis following the annulment of the 1993 election results
• The former head of state, who was said to have been initially surprised by Lamido's earnest request, later admitted that he wished he had met him much earlier

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

The former governor of Jigawa state, Sule Lamido, shared that he directly asked former head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd), to step down during the June 12 crisis after the annulment of the 1993 presidential election won by MKO Abiola.

1993 election annulment: Lamido recalls IBB meeting

In an excerpt from his autobiography, Being True to Myself, launched on May 13, Sule Lamido, who was the national secretary of the now-defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), recalled Babangida’s response, saying no Nigerian would dare tell him to resign to his face.

In chapter 7, titled ‘June 12 Consumes IBB’, the former governor recalled that he was not convinced by IBB's justification for annulling the election.

He said during their meeting at the Presidential Villa, Babangida’s claim that Abiola couldn’t take office because the government owed him money came across as mere moralising.

Lamido to Babangida on June 12: 'Resign'

As reported by The Punch, Lamido stated:

“As the National Secretary of the SDP, I told him, 'No, the SDP is done with any discussion with the federal military government concerning the June 12 elections. We shall not participate in any new election, as far as we are concerned. It must be June 12 or nothing else'.

“Then he asked me, 'Sule, what do I do? 'In my naïve 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.”

Continuing, Lamido said Babangida admitted he wished he had met him earlier, acknowledging that his previous impressions of him were mistaken.

Meanwhile, the former Jigawa Governor urged President Bola Tinubu to resolve the N45 billion debt owed to the late Chief MKO Abiola, calling it a crucial step in closing the chapter on June 12.

Speaking at the launch of his book in Abuja, Lamido emphasised Abiola’s dual injustice, being denied the presidency and the financial debt being left unsettled.

He passionately appealed to the Minister of Information to relay the message to Tinubu, insisting that settling the debt would finally bring closure to a significant moment in Nigeria’s democratic history.

Read more about Lamido here:

• Abacha’s family releases statement over Babangida’s claim about June 12 annulment
• 2027 election: Lamido sends message to El-Rufai, Kwankwaso, others as plot against Tinubu deepens
• Just in: Speculation as Peter Obi visits former governor of Jigawa

Babangida admits MKO Abiola won 1993 election

Legit.ng earlier reported that General Babangida (IBB) had admitted late Moshood Abiola had won the June 12 election in 1993.

As reported by This Day, he made the admission in his autobiography, titled A Journey in Service, in Abuja on February 20.

Source: Legit.ng