Abuja, Nigeria – Former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has reignited the call for the Nigerian government to settle the substantial debt owed to the late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election. Speaking at the public presentation of his book, “Being True To Myself,” in Abuja on Tuesday, Lamido specifically appealed to President Bola Tinubu to address this long-standing issue and “close the chapter of June 12.”
Lamido referenced General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s account, stating, “In his book, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida revealed that Abiola won the election. When I went to him (IBB), he said Abiola is being owed ₦45 billion. Abiola is double punished. One, he was not given the presidency, and two, he is being owed.”
The former governor’s statement highlights a persistent narrative surrounding the financial obligations allegedly owed to Abiola’s businesses and family by the federal government. While specific details about the composition of this ₦45 billion debt remain subject to ongoing debate, it is widely understood to involve contracts and financial transactions related to Abiola’s extensive business empire, which included telecommunications, publishing, and oil services.
The annulment of the June 12 election, widely considered to be Nigeria’s freest and fairest, plunged the nation into a political crisis. Abiola’s subsequent detention and death in custody further deepened the national wound. The issue of compensation and recognition of Abiola’s mandate has remained a sensitive and unresolved matter for decades.
President Tinubu, who has previously acknowledged Abiola’s sacrifice and the significance of June 12, is now being urged to take concrete action to address the financial aspect of this historical injustice. The call for settlement underscores the desire for closure and reconciliation among many Nigerians who believe Abiola’s family deserves restitution.
It is important to note that the specifics of the ₦45 billion claim, and any potential ongoing legal or financial negotiations surrounding it, are not entirely clear in the publicly available information.
