Jamiu Abiola, son of the late Chief MKO Abiola, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s role in the fight to restore the June 12, 1993 mandate, calling him a true hero of Nigeria’s democracy.
This came in response to former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, who recently claimed Tinubu acted more like a political opportunist than a genuine supporter of the pro-democracy movement.
Jamiu Abiola dismissed Lamido’s remarks, saying Tinubu was fully committed to the June 12 cause and made huge personal sacrifices during that period. He described Tinubu as “vocal and visible from the beginning,” adding that the president publicly condemned the annulment while serving as a senator in 1993.
“At a time when most politicians were silent or compromised, Tinubu stood firm. He described the annulment on the Senate floor as another coup d’état,” Abiola said.
He added that Tinubu supported protests, provided logistics, and even helped MKO Abiola return to Nigeria during the crisis. “His home was bombed, and he had to flee into exile. He didn’t sit on the fence, he was fully involved,” Jamiu stated.
Jamiu, who lived in the U.S. at the time, recalled visiting Tinubu’s Maryland home, where he met the late Afenifere leader, Pa Abraham Adesanya. “I learned that Tinubu had been sponsoring the struggle and supporting those affected by the military crackdown,” he said.
He also praised Tinubu for honouring his mother, the late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, who was assassinated while fighting for democracy. “Tinubu recently awarded her the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) honour. That meant a lot to our family and to Nigeria.”
Jamiu concluded by saying Tinubu is not only a man of action but one who continues to show respect for Nigeria’s democratic past. “He remembers the sacrifices and leads with that history in mind. He is the right leader for Nigeria,” he said.
