More than three decades after Nigeria’s most contentious election was annulled, a fresh appeal from former Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido has reignited debate over whether the nation owes more than just symbolic recognition to the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola.
At the launch of his autobiography Being True to Myself in Abuja, Mr Lamido publicly urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to authorise the payment of a N45 billion debt allegedly owed to the Abiola family.
“Please tell the President to pay the Abiola family the N45 billion. That will finally close the June 12 chapter,” Mr Lamido told attendees, addressing the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris, who represented the President.
The Contested Legacy of June 12
The June 12, 1993 presidential election widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest has long been seen as a turning point in the country’s democratic evolution. While official results were never released, credible exit polls and tallies by civil society observers indicated a landslide victory for MKO Abiola under the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Despite this, the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the election, sparking widespread protests and international condemnation.
Successive administrations have grappled with the moral and historical weight of that decision. In 2018, then-President Muhammadu Buhari posthumously recognised Abiola as the winner of the annulled election and declared June 12 Nigeria’s official Democracy Day. However, critics argue that true justice for the Abiola family remains incomplete.
“Abiola was doubly punished: denied both the presidency and his due,” Mr Lamido said at the book launch, reiterating claims that the late businessman-turned-politician was financially shortchanged following his role in supplying telecommunications services to the government prior to his arrest and subsequent death in custody in 1998.
The N45 Billion Claim
The origin of the alleged N45 billion debt is murky. While Mr Lamido referenced a conversation with former military ruler General Babangida, who reportedly acknowledged the debt during a private meeting, there has been no official confirmation from the federal government or the Abiola family regarding the exact sum or legal basis for the claim.
Public records and historical accounts confirm that Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, through his association with International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT) Nigeria Ltd, was significantly involved in telecommunications contracts with the Nigerian government during the 1970s and 1980s. As chairman and part-owner of ITT Nigeria, Abiola played a pivotal role in securing major contracts aimed at modernising Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure.
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In 1975, ITT and its partners secured a substantial contract to supply automatic telephone exchanges across various locations in Nigeria. This deal was among the largest handled by ITT’s telecommunications division, with the Nigerian government initially agreeing to a $160 million contract, which later escalated by at least $100 million due to additional costs. The equipment supplied was manufactured by ITT’s European subsidiaries and then sold to the Nigerian government through a Swiss subsidiary, a process that raised concerns about financial transparency and potential violations of U.S. anti-bribery laws.
Abiola’s involvement in these contracts was not without controversy. Reports from the era indicate that ITT made significant payments to Abiola, which he distributed among Nigerian government officials to secure these lucrative deals. While ITT officials claimed these payments were legitimate commissions, the secrecy surrounding the transactions, facilitated through Swiss banking channels, led to suspicions of unethical practices.
Despite these controversies, Abiola maintained that his business dealings were above board. In interviews, he asserted that ITT Nigeria fulfilled its contractual obligations by supplying the necessary equipment, and any project delays were due to the government’s failure to provide the required infrastructure. He challenged critics to provide evidence of any wrongdoing on his part.
The lack of digitised government archives from that period makes it challenging to fully assess the scope and details of these contracts. However, the available records underscore Abiola’s significant role in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector during a critical period of development.
Despite the absence of public documentation, Lamido’s call is likely to resonate in political and civil rights circles.
Weighing Symbolism Against Substantive Justice
The 2018 recognition of Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola by the Nigerian federal government marked a significant symbolic gesture in acknowledging the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election. President Muhammadu Buhari posthumously awarded Abiola the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR) and declared June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day, replacing the previous date of May 29 .
However, beyond these symbolic acts, there has been limited public discourse or policy action regarding compensatory or restorative justice for the Abiola family. While the family received national honours, financial compensation or other forms of restitution have not been formally addressed in public policy or legislative discussions.
In a 2021 commentary, Lagos-based human rights advocate Dr. Ayo Obe emphasized the importance of accountability in Nigeria’s democratic journey. She noted that while symbolic recognition is significant, tangible actions are necessary to honor the sacrifices made by individuals like Abiola in the pursuit of democracy.
The renewed attention to the debt claim arrives at a time when President Tinubu is navigating complex political and economic terrain, including public discontent over subsidy removal, inflation, and debt servicing pressures.
With Nigeria’s total public debt hitting ₦97.34 trillion as of 31 December 2023, according to official data from the Debt Management Office (DMO), any large-scale financial settlement such as the alleged ₦45 billion owed to the Abiola family could attract intense fiscal scrutiny. The figure, which includes debts incurred by the Federal Government, the 36 states, and the Federal Capital Territory, reflects the country’s growing reliance on both domestic and external borrowing.
The DMO disclosed this in a press release titled “Nigeria’s Total Public Debt as at December 31, 2023”, published on its website.
Furthermore, by the first quarter of 2024, the DMO reported that public debt had surged to ₦121.67 trillion, reflecting a 25% increase, largely driven by new borrowing and currency depreciation.
The presidency has not issued any formal response to Mr Lamido’s remarks. The Minister of Information, who was directly addressed at the event, did not confirm whether the President had been previously briefed on the matter or intended to act on the recommendation.
