Jamiu Abiola, son of the late Chief MKO Abiola, has revealed that former military ruler, General Sani Abacha, was unable to assassinate Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, the mother of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during the June 12 political crisis due to her immense public influence and revered status.
In a recent interview with Punch, Jamiu explained that Abacha specifically targeted individuals who were politically isolated or lacked widespread public support, making them easier to eliminate. In contrast, Alhaja Mogaji was a formidable and highly respected leader, particularly among market women across Lagos and Nigeria.
“She was simply untouchable—too influential, too respected, and too powerful for Abacha to target,” Jamiu said.
Dismissing Allegations of Betrayal
Jamiu also refuted claims by former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, who had alleged that Tinubu and his mother supported the annulment of the 1993 presidential election. He described the assertion as both false and disrespectful to Alhaja Mogaji’s legacy.
“That claim is not only false but insulting. Had she supported the annulment, she would have lost the trust of market women who overwhelmingly backed my father, MKO Abiola,” he said.
To underscore her opposition to the annulment, Mogaji reportedly removed her headscarf publicly while pleading with then Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, to reverse the decision—an emotional act that many eyewitnesses in Abuja still remember.
Tinubu’s Bold Stand in 1993 Remembered
Jamiu went on to praise President Bola Tinubu’s early resistance to the annulment. He recounted that as a senator in 1993, Tinubu was among the few who openly condemned the annulment on the floor of the Senate.
“On August 19, 1993, he stood up in the Senate and declared the annulment a coup d’état. That kind of boldness was rare, and the records are there to confirm it,” he noted.
Drawing from his personal experience, Jamiu reflected on the loss of both his parents, attributing their vulnerability to their isolated resistance. He emphasized that individuals like Tinubu and his mother were shielded by their visibility and widespread public support.
“My mother and others were targeted because they were isolated in their opposition. But the president’s mother had influence and backing—it made her a far more difficult target,” he added.
Legacy of Courage
Jamiu concluded by noting that Nigeria’s democratic journey owes a great deal to courageous figures like Bola Tinubu and Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, whose defiance during one of the country’s most turbulent periods helped shape its political future.
Obasanjo Recalls Abacha’s Plot Against Key Figures
In a related development, former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently recounted how Abacha allegedly planned to eliminate him, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, and Chief MKO Abiola following their arrest during the June 12 struggle. Speaking during the commissioning of The Noah’s Ark Church in Imo State, Obasanjo described his survival as an act of divine intervention.
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