The son of the late MKO Abiola, Jamiu Abiola, has dismissed claims by former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, on President Bola Tinubu’s role in the June 12, 1993, presidential election crisis.

Recall that Lamido recently claimed that Tinubu, a known member of the pro-democracy movement during the period, acted more as a “soldier of fortune” than a genuine advocate for the people’s mandate.

Faulting the former governor’s assertion, Abiola insisted there was no truth to the claim.

He described Tinubu as a frontline figure in the June 12 struggle who risked his life and committed personal resources to the cause.

He said, contrary to claims that Tinubu played a marginal role, the former Lagos State governor was not only vocal but actively involved in resisting the annulment of the presidential election, which was widely believed to have been won by his father.

Speaking to newsmen, he said, “Tinubu was vocal and visible from the very beginning. As a senator in 1993, he publicly condemned the annulment on the Senate floor, calling it another coup d’état.”

According to him, Tinubu took a bold stance on August 19, 1993, when he spoke out against the annulment on the floor of the Senate, describing it as “another coup d’état,” at a time when many other politicians opted for silence or self-preservation.

“You would recall that most politicians were silent then, including those shouting today. Many were part of the establishment and chose to compromise, which is not a new thing to them. President Tinubu took the opposite route,” he added.

Highlighting further contributions, Abiola said Tinubu organised protests against the annulment and provided critical logistical support that facilitated his father’s return to Nigeria after an extended stay abroad.

Abiola stated, “Unlike others, he did not feel that my wealthy father should bear the financial burden of the resistance on his own. Guess what happened afterwards? The home of Senator Tinubu was bombed by regime loyalists.

“So, this was not someone sitting on the fence or playing both sides. He had been putting himself on the front lines from day one. Thus, he paid such a huge price and needed to escape to continue the struggle from abroad, which is exactly what he did.”

He recalled that Tinubu later fled into exile, where he continued the struggle, and recounted meeting him in Maryland, United States.