Firstsitenews -Former National Secretary of the defunct Social Democratic Party and ex-Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has claimed that the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the late Chief MKO Abiola was motivated by the military government's refusal to pay Abiola a debt of N45 billion.
Lamido, speaking during the public presentation of his autobiography titled Being True to Myself on Tuesday in Abuja, alleged that the sum was owed to Abiola for contracts executed by his company, International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT), for the Ministry of Communications during the regime of the late General Murtala Muhammed.
According to Lamido, after General Murtala's death, Abiola sought payment for the debt, but the military rejected the claim. Fearing that Abiola would recover the money if sworn in as President, Lamido said the military decided to annul the election to avoid potential bankruptcy.
“When Murtala died, Abiola claimed the government owed him about N45 billion for contracts executed by ITT. He went around northern emirs to lobby for payment, and they appealed to the military on his behalf,” Lamido explained.
“But the military high command refused. When he won the 1993 election, they feared that if he became President, he would claim the debt, and the country would go bankrupt. That was the real reason for the annulment. Those who were close to Abacha at the time, including Abacha himself, knew about this.”
Lamido concluded by urging President Bola Tinubu to bring final closure to the June 12 episode by settling the alleged debt with Abiola’s family.
“I appeal to President Tinubu to finally close the chapter of June 12 by addressing this matter,” he said.
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