As Nigeria marked the 33rd anniversary of the historic June 12, 1993, presidential election won by Chief MKO Abiola, veteran security journalist and analyst, Mr Folorunsho Atta, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu played a pivotal role in supporting Abiola’s victory, driven by his conviction that Abiola embodied the qualities needed to provide purposeful leadership for the nation.
Atta recalled first meeting Tinubu in 1992, with their bond strengthening during the turbulent events surrounding the annulled June 12 election.
He described Tinubu as approachable and press-friendly, noting that he and two colleagues, the late Frank Alabi and Femi from a soft-sell magazine, often visited Tinubu’s Victoria Island office for interviews.
“On several occasions, Tinubu even provided us transportation,” Atta said. “I rode up front with him in his Cherokee Jeep, and he often spoke passionately against the prevailing poverty in the country. He was deeply concerned about how Nigerians suffered amidst such abundance.”
According to Atta, this concern fueled Tinubu’s tireless support for Abiola during the election. The annulment of the poll deeply troubled him, leading to a willingness to risk his life in efforts to pressure then-military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida to reverse the decision.
However, after General Sani Abacha seized power and Tinubu learned he was being targeted for assassination, he fled into exile in the United States.
Reflecting on the present, Atta expresses disappointment that despite hopes for good governance under Tinubu, Nigerians are enduring severe hardship, insecurity, and daily struggles to feed themselves.
“Even now, I trust that Tinubu is working around the clock to deliver the purposeful leadership he once envisioned. But I know he cannot be happy with the current situation. He must take bold, drastic action as soon as possible,” Atta urged. #Securitynewsalert.com
