Former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has accused President Bola Tinubu of being part of those who supported the annulment of the June 12, 1993, elections by former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida.

This was as he expressed surprise that Tinubu is now posing as a champion of democracy when his efforts led to the cancellation of the freest and fairest election in Nigeria's history.

Lamido said this during an interview on Arise TV.

"I feel highly entertained by Tinubu's rhetoric, the way he's dramatising his role in Nigeria's democracy.

"Tinubu became relevant and noticeable after Abacha took over the government; before then, he was in the senate while he was the secretary of the party.

"He was part of those who supported IBB's annulment of the June 12 election; his own mother, Hajia Mogaji, was organising Lagos market women to come to Abuja to pledge support for Babangida.

"Tinubu was actively hand-in-glove with Babangida. NADECO was postulation formation to fight Abacha not for June 12," he said.

Lamido appealed to Tinubu to pay the debt of N45 billion owed to Abiola by handing it to the deceased's family. According to him, the debt contributed to why the military prevented Abiola from becoming President despite winning the 1993 election.

“When General Murtala Muhammed died, Abiola came in with a claim that he was owed, I think, about N45bn for contracts executed by International Telephone and Telecommunication for the Ministry of Communications. The military high command at that time said no. He went around the emirs in the North to lobby, and the emirs asked that they, the military, please pay the money.,

“They said they cancelled the June 12 elections because if they made him president, he would take his money and the country would become bankrupt. Those who were close to Abacha should know this because Abacha was then one of the big shots; they were all aware.

''I want to appeal to President Tinubu to finally close the chapter on June 12. In his book, General Ibrahim Babangida acknowledged that Abiola won the election. When I visited him, he also confirmed that Abiola is owed N45 billion. He was doubly punished: first, denied the presidency, second, denied what is owed to him,” Lamido said.

ASA