A former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has called on President Bola Tinubu to compensate the family of the late Moshood Abiola with ₦45 billion as restitution for the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.
Lamido made the call on Tuesday during the public presentation of his autobiography, Being True to Myself, in Abuja.
He argued that the payment would not only symbolise justice but also offer moral closure to what remains one of Nigeria’s most painful democratic reversals.
“Before I end my remarks, I would like to appeal to the President, President (Bola) Tinubu, to close the chapter of June 12,” Lamido said.
Referring to a former military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida’s recent memoir, Lamido stated, “In his book, General Babangida revealed that Abiola won the election. He said that.
“When I went to him, he said that Abiola was being owed ₦45 billion, and therefore, if he were the President, he would pay the money. So, it means Abiola is being doubly punished, denied his own presidency and also his own money.
“Please, tell the President to please let him pay Abiola’s family the money for which he has been suffering, for which he has been denied his own presidency — ₦45 billion. It’s very, very important. When this money is paid, the chapter will be closed,” he added.
Lamido’s appeal came in the wake of revelations from Babangida’s released memoir, ‘A Journey in Service,’ in February, which has reignited national debate about the events of 1993.
In the book, Babangida, for the first time, publicly acknowledged that Abiola won the annulled election, widely considered the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history.
According to Babangida, Abiola of the Social Democratic Party secured 8,128,720 votes against Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC), who polled 5,848,247 votes.
Babangida admitted that annulling the election was the most difficult decision of his life, citing fears of military coups and national instability. He took responsibility for his administration’s missteps, while also claiming that the decision was executed by forces within his government.
He further alleged that the announcement of the annulment was made without his authorisation.
The claims elicited mixed reactions nationwide.
While President Tinubu and others have lauded Babangida for finally recognising Abiola’s victory, critics — including human rights groups — argue that the memoir attempted to deflect accountability.
In 2018, a former president, Muhammadu Buhari, posthumously awarded Abiola the title of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), Nigeria’s highest national honour.
The Buhari administration also declared June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day, in recognition of Abiola’s contribution to the country’s democratic development.
