June 12: I Told Babangida to Step Down – Ex-Gov Lamido

Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has disclosed that he personally urged the former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd), to step down following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which was won by Chief MKO Abiola.

In an excerpt from his autobiography, Being True to Myself, launched on May 13, Lamido—who served as the National Secretary of the now-defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP)—recalled his encounter with Babangida. He recounted how the former military ruler reacted when confronted with the demand for his resignation, stating that no Nigerian had ever dared to tell him to step down face-to-face.

In chapter seven of the book, titled June 12 Consumes IBB, Lamido narrates: “One early morning, while at the Nicon Noga Hilton hotel suite (now Transcorp Hilton), I received a call from someone identifying himself as Col. Bamalli, saying the Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) wanted to see me immediately. Unfamiliar with the term, I asked who the C-in-C was. When he replied ‘Mr. President,’ I told him I was just waking up and hadn’t even bathed yet.

“Unknown to me, Babangida was on the line as well. I heard him say, ‘Kai Sule, ka zo yanzu’ (Hey Sule, come over right now). I responded, ‘Yes, Sir!’”

Lamido expressed skepticism about Babangida’s justification for annulling the election. During their meeting at the Presidential Villa, Babangida claimed that Abiola could not assume office because the government owed him money—a reasoning Lamido dismissed as mere moralizing.

As the SDP’s National Secretary, Lamido told Babangida firmly, “No, the SDP is finished with any discussions with the federal military government regarding the June 12 elections. We will not participate in any new election. For us, it must be June 12 or nothing.”

He remained steadfast against any alternative political transition plan proposed by Babangida. However, pressure from groups like the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and other pro-June 12 activists eventually compelled the SDP leadership to reconsider.

Lamido recounted that, during their first meeting, Babangida saw him as genuine, sincere, and perhaps somewhat naïve.

At one point, Babangida asked him directly, “Sule, what do I do?” Without hesitation, Lamido replied candidly, “Sir, you must resign and leave office.” Upon hearing this, Babangida’s demeanor changed dramatically.

For several minutes, he was speechless, then looked at Lamido and said, “Sule, no Nigerian can dare say that to me. I know Nigerians very well, and I never expected you to be that bold. You are very lucky. I see in you someone who is godly.

“I know whatever you say or do comes from your genuine conviction, not from external influence. Whatever you say or do—right or wrong—is your personal understanding. Even if it seems madness, it is original and a true reflection of yourself.”

Babangida also admitted he wished he had met Lamido earlier, acknowledging that his previous perceptions of him were mistaken.

Lamido further explained that intense negotiations between the National Republican Convention (NRC) and SDP representatives with Babangida’s team culminated in the establishment of Chief Ernest Shonekan’s Interim National Government (ING) in 1993.

He said Babangida likely felt the need to appoint a suitable leader from the Southwest—someone acceptable to the Yoruba people and with strong ties to the British government, which had been applying diplomatic pressure on the military regime.

“As a former chairman of the United African Company (UAC), one of Nigeria’s oldest British firms and a key pillar of the economy, Chief Ernest Shonekan was an ideal choice,” Lamido noted. “He was highly respected in the corporate sector, had national stature, and was not controversial.

“Although prominent Yoruba politicians had played no part in the elections, the Yoruba community sought to claim the SDP’s victory and Abiola’s mandate as their own.

“Selecting Shonekan, a Yoruba, was meant to signal that the annulment of the June 12 election was not motivated by ethnic bias against Abiola.”

Lamido emphasized that neither the NRC nor the SDP was involved in choosing Shonekan as head of the Interim National Government, contrary to popular speculation.