The former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barrister Hazeem Gbolarumi has revealed why 2023 presidential election must be a payback time for the former Vice President Abubakar Atiku.
Gbolarumi stated this on Sunday morning while fielding questions on a Fresh FM radio program in Ibadan to mark the 29th anniversary of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections.
Gubernatorial aspirant in the just concluded PDP primaries in Oyo State stated that it is time to pay back Alhaji Abubakar Atiku for his role in the events leading to the June 12 Nigerians are celebrating today.
To buttress his assertion, Gbolarumi went down memory lane recalling how the SDP primaries in Jos was conducted in 1993, where M.K.O. Abiola came first at the first ballot but didn’t have enough votes to win the the ticket.
He said, “Babagana Kingibe came a close second, having 3,255 votes behind Abiola’s 3,617 votes. Atiku came third with 2,066 votes. They had to go to a second ballot. Atiku became the deciding factor as whoever he tilted would carry the day.
“Kingibe, he recalled, had the support of most SDP governors like Oyegun, Bamidele Olumilua, Felix Ibru and others like Emeka Ojukwu, Arthur Nzeribe, Olusola Saraki, Ben Obi and Ebenezer Babatope. They all were against Abiola and wanted Atiku to support Kingibe.
“Abiola had in his support, among others like Osoba, Kolapo Ishola, Isiaka Adeleke, Lamidi Adedibu, Bola Tinubu, Jakande, Chuba Okadigbo, Sule Lamido, Balarabe Musa, Abubakar Rimi, Dosu Ladipo, Yohana Madaki, Tony Anenih and Ango Abdullahi.
“Some Yoruba leaders in Jos then felt it was over for Moshood Abiola since the two northern aspirants had a total of 5,321 votes against Abiola’s 3,617.
“The trio of Adedibu, Dosu Ladipo and S.M. Afolabi approached General Shehu Yaradua, who was Atiku’s political godfather to prevail on Abubakar Atiku to step down for Abiola. Atiku agreed to step down for Abiola with a proviso that he would be given the Vice President slot, to which Abiola agreed.
“This agreement gave Abiola the ticket for the June 12, 1993 election at the Jos convention.
“Kingibe pulled a fast one by announcing his intention to be Abiola’s VP immediately the result was declared. 12 out 14 SDP governors conspired against Atiku, threatening they won’t work for Abiola if he picked Atiku”, Gbolarumi revealed.
However, Gbolarumi revealed that only Kolapo Ishola and Oshoba supported MKO.
“The then sitting military president, Ibrahim Babangida also went against Kingibe. He wanted Paschal Bafyau or he wouldn’t hand over to Abiola.
“A confused Abiola bowed to pressure from the governors and announced Kingibe giving the excuse that “Atiku didn’t say he stepped down for Abiola”.
Despite the let down, Atiku, according to Barrister Gbolarumi, still worked assiduously for the success of M. K. O. Abiola at the polls.
General Ibrahim Babangida made good his threat and the rest is history today.
Gbolarumi concluded by pointing out that Atiku as far back as 1993, chose to back a Yoruba man, M.K.O. Abiola against Kingibe, a fellow northerner. Saying after being disappointed concerning the VP position, he still took it with equanimity and worked for the Yoruba candidate.
After the annulment of the elections, Atiku, unlike most others, including Abiola’s Yoruba Kinsmen, was one of the few who didn’t fraternize with the Military but stood by Abiola’s mandate.
According to Gbolarumi, the June 12 we celebrate today was made possible by Atiku’s sacrifice and magnanimity. And that it is payback time for Yorubas to reciprocate the 1993 gesture.
