Former Governor Lamido has appealed to Tinubu to resolve June 12 chapter, honour Abiola’s legacy by paying N45bn debt to his family
Former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, on Tuesday, called on President Bola Tinubu to be courageous enough to close the June 12 chapter once and for all, by paying the alleged N45 billion owed the family of Chief MKO Abiola by the federal government.
This was as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has said Nigerian leaders already had their work cut out for them to accomplish their objectives for the country, stressing that their work remains unfinished.
Lamido, speaking at the public presentation of his autobiography “Being True to Myself,” held at the NAF Conference Centre in Abuja, called on Tinubu to be courageous enough to close the chapter of June 12 once for all.
According to him, the payment of the 45billion debt owed the family of the late winner of the June 12 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, would serve as a symbolic and moral closure to the June 12 struggle and Abiola’s unjust treatment following the annulment of the 1993 presidential election, widely believed to have been won by him.
“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 round the Emirs in the North to lobby and the emirs asked that they (military) should please pay the money.
“The (military) said they cancelled the June 12 elections because if they made him president, he would take his money and the country will become bankrupt. Those who were close to Abacha should know this, because Abacha was then one of the big shots; they were all aware.
“Before I end my remarks, I want to appeal to President Tinubu to finally close the chapter of 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.”
He urged the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris, who represented President Tinubu at the event to deliver the message to the president.
“Please tell the president to pay the Abiola family the N45 billion. Once this is done, the June 12 chapter will be closed. It is very important,” he emphasised.
Dignitary who gathered at the Nigerian Air force Conference Centre, Abuja, in honour of Lamido included Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Former Vice-President, Namadi Sambo; Ex-National Security Adviser, Lt. General Aliyu Gusau; former Senate Presidents, Ayim Pius Ayim and Ken Nnamani and a former PDP National Chairman, who also reviewed the book, Dr. Iyiorchia Ayu among others.
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