June 12: I Dared IBB to Resign— Sule Lamido

Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has revealed that he once told former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), to resign following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which was widely believed to have been won by Chief MKO Abiola.

In his recently launched autobiography, Being True to Myself, Lamido recounted his direct encounter with Babangida in the aftermath of the annulled election. The book, launched on May 13, features a chapter titled “June 12 Consumes IBB”, where the former National Secretary of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) detailed the dramatic exchange.

According to Lamido, he was summoned to the Presidential Villa by Babangida himself.

“I was at the Nicon Noga Hilton (now Transcorp Hilton) when my phone rang early in the morning. A voice identified itself as Col. Bamalli and said the C-in-C wanted to see me,” he wrote. “Being unfamiliar with the term, I asked, ‘Who is the C-in-C?’ He replied, ‘Mr President.’ Then I heard Babangida’s voice on the line saying, ‘Kai Sule, ka zo yanzu’ (Hey Sule, come over right now). I said, ‘Yes sir!’”

During the meeting, Lamido said Babangida attempted to justify the annulment by claiming that Abiola could not be allowed to assume office due to financial obligations the government had towards him. Lamido dismissed this reasoning as mere moralising.

“As the National Secretary of the SDP, I told him the party was done with discussions on the June 12 elections. We would not participate in any new election. It was June 12 or nothing,” Lamido wrote.

He added that despite mounting pressure from the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and others, the SDP leadership later reconsidered its stance on participating in a new transition arrangement.

Lamido said Babangida appeared to view him as honest and straightforward during their discussion.

“He asked me, ‘Sule, what do I do?’ I told him frankly, ‘Sir, you must resign and leave office.’ His expression changed instantly. I saw fire in his eyes; he was speechless for a moment.”

According to Lamido, Babangida then said, “Sule, no Nigerian can dare say that to me. I know Nigerians very well. I never thought you could be that daring. You are very lucky. I see in you someone who is godly… Even if it were madness, it is original and a reflection of your true self.”

Babangida reportedly admitted he had misjudged Lamido and wished they had met earlier.

Lamido further narrated that tense negotiations between the SDP, the National Republican Convention (NRC), and the military regime eventually led to the establishment of the Interim National Government (ING) headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan.

“Before announcing the ING, Babangida needed someone from the Southwest—respected, acceptable to the Yoruba, and well-connected internationally. Shonekan, a former chairman of UAC and a respected corporate figure, fit the profile,” Lamido wrote.

He claimed the appointment of Shonekan was aimed at easing ethnic tensions and demonstrating that the annulment was not motivated by Abiola’s Yoruba background.

Lamido clarified that neither the SDP nor the NRC had a hand in choosing Shonekan to lead the ING, despite widespread assumptions.