Former Jigawa State Governor and ex-National Secretary of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), Sule Lamido, has revealed that he told former military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida, to resign during the June 12 crisis in 1993.
Lamido made the revelation in his autobiography, Being True to Myself, launched on May 13. He recalled that he met Babangida face-to-face after the military annulled the presidential election won by Chief MKO Abiola.
In Chapter 7 of the book, titled June 12 Consumes IBB, Lamido wrote, “As the National Secretary of the SDP, I told him, ‘No, the SDP is done with any discussion with the federal military government concerning the June 12 elections… It must be June 12 or nothing else.”
He said he challenged Babangida’s proposal for a new political transition and asked him directly to step down.
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“In my naïve and innocent way, I told him frankly, ‘Sir, you must resign and leave office.’ Immediately, his face changed. I saw fire in his eyes. For some minutes, he was speechless,” Lamido recalled.
Babangida reportedly responded with shock, saying, “Sule, no Nigerian can dare say that to me, and I know Nigerians very well. I never thought you could be that daring. You are very lucky.”
Despite the tension, Babangida later praised Lamido’s sincerity. “I see in you someone who is godly… Whatever you say or do, right or wrong, is your personal understanding of issues. Even if it were madness, it is original,” Babangida said, according to Lamido.
Lamido also revealed that the intense pressure and talks between the military, SDP, and the opposition eventually led to the creation of an Interim National Government headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan.
He explained that Shonekan, who was from the Southwest and had strong ties with the British government, was chosen to calm tensions, not necessarily because he was Yoruba.
Lamido wrote, “Shonekan was respected, not controversial, and acceptable across Nigeria. Although none of their prominent politicians had played any role in the elections, the Yoruba now wanted to hijack the victory of the SDP and Chief Abiola and make it their own affair.”
Lamido also clarified that the SDP and the National Republican Convention (NRC) had no role in selecting Shonekan as interim leader.