Jamiu Abiola, son of the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, has revealed that General Sani Abacha was unable to assassinate Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, the mother of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during the June 12 crisis because of her immense public influence, revered status, and deep-rooted support among Nigerians—particularly market women.
Speaking in an interview with The Punch, Jamiu Abiola dismissed recent claims made by former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, who alleged that Tinubu and his mother supported the annulment of the 1993 presidential election. Abiola described the claim as “false and insulting” to Alhaja Mogaji’s legacy.
“Had she supported the annulment, she would have lost the trust and respect of the trading community, most of whom supported my father. She was a woman of integrity who stood with the people,” he said.
Mogaji’s Public Opposition to June 12 Annulment
Jamiu emphasized that Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, a powerful matriarch and respected leader of market women in Lagos and across Nigeria, publicly opposed the annulment. One of her symbolic acts of resistance was emotionally removing her headscarf in public as she pleaded with then military president Ibrahim Babangida to reverse the decision—a moment he said many in Abuja still remember vividly.
“It was an emotional plea that showed her deep commitment to justice and democracy,” he added.
Tinubu’s Early Defiance Remembered
Jamiu also commended Bola Tinubu for his courageous stand during the June 12 crisis. As a senator in 1993, Tinubu was among the few lawmakers who boldly condemned the annulment on the Senate floor.
“On August 19, 1993, Tinubu described the annulment as a coup d’état—publicly and on record. That kind of bravery was rare during that time, and the official records still bear witness to his stand,” Jamiu noted.
He highlighted that while many pro-democracy advocates paid a heavy price—including the death of his parents, M.K.O. Abiola and Kudirat Abiola—some individuals were spared by the Abacha regime due to their high public visibility and broad support base.
“My mother was a target because she and a few others were isolated in their activism. But someone like Tinubu’s mother was untouchable—she had the people behind her,” he explained.
A Legacy of Courage and Sacrifice
Jamiu concluded by stressing that Nigeria’s democratic journey owes a great deal to the bravery of individuals like Tinubu and his mother, who stood firm during one of the nation’s most turbulent political eras.
“Their courage helped sustain the fight for democracy when it mattered most,” he said.
Related Development: Obasanjo Recounts Abacha’s Plot
In a related story, former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently recalled how he narrowly escaped an alleged assassination plot orchestrated by Abacha against himself, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, and Chief M.K.O. Abiola. Speaking at a church commissioning in Imo State, Obasanjo described his survival as nothing short of divine grace.
These revelations highlight the dangerous climate of the Abacha era and the enduring legacies of those who resisted authoritarian rule in defense of democracy.
