President Bola Tinubu’s government has dismissed former Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido’s accusation that Mr Tinubu supported former military dictator Ibrahim Babangida’s annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

In a statement by Bayo Onanuga, spokesperson for the Tinubu-led government, on Sunday, the presidency described Mr Lamido’s remarks as false and a deliberate attempt to rewrite history.

“Alhaji Lamido’s claims represent a distortion of history and a regrettable attempt at revisionism. He alleged that President Tinubu only rose to prominence after the formation of NADECO and claimed that Tinubu’s mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, mobilised market women to back the annulment. These allegations are patently false,” Mr Onanuga said.

He continued: “We do not want to believe that Alhaji Lamido suffers from what psychologists call tall poppy syndrome. However, the conclusion is inevitable, as it appears that Lamido is envious of Tinubu’s democratic credentials. The facts remain clear: President Tinubu was—and remains—a steadfast advocate for democracy,” he said, “in contrast to the record of Lamido and others who capitulated in the face of military oppression and intimidation.”

The presidential spokesperson also debunked Mr Lamido’s claims that Mr Tinubu’s mother mobilised women in support of Ibrahim Babangida, the anuller of the election.

“Let us set the record straight: Alhaja Mogaji never mobilised market women to support the unjust annulment. Had she done so, she would have lost her position as market leader in Lagos. While she once had a personal relationship with then-President Babangida, this was before the annulment crisis,” Mr Onanuga stated.

In an interview with Arise TV on Saturday, Mr Lamido had accused Mr Tinubu of supporting the annulment of the June 12 presidential election.

“He was part of those who supported IBB’s annulment of the June 12 election. His own mother, Hajia Mogaji, was organising Lagos market women to come to Abuja to pledge support for Babangida,” Mr Lamido claimed.