Former Jigawa State governor and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sule Lamido, has revealed an account of how the late Chief Bola Ige openly challenged northern politicians over their commitment to opposing General Sani Abacha’s military regime.
In his recently published autobiography, ‘Being True To Myself’, unveiled on May 13, Lamido recounts how early efforts to unite against the Abacha government was resisted. He said Bola Ige expressed deep mistrust toward northern members of the original nine-person group known as the G9—tasked with laying the foundation for what would later become the PDP.
Lamido narrated the encounter, stating that the G9, which included prominent figures such as ex-Vice President Alex Ekwueme, Senator Francis Ellah, and himself, convened at 9 Raymond Njoku Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, to strategize after their political parties were denied registration by the Abacha administration.
He recalled a heated moment when Ige interrupted the discussion and directly confronted the northern members.
Lamido quoted Ige as saying: “Look, Sule, before going into details about this G9... your collective position on many issues within the last few years has revealed that the North responds as one entity. The North has an agenda and, therefore... I don’t trust you. You are trying to use us to create a kind of moral force, a national momentum, but you have a private agenda behind it. Other wise, if you want me to believe you, go back to the North and create a fresh group to challenge Abacha’s military government. Only if you do that will I believe you.”;;
Responding to the challenge, Lamido admitted, “We agree, you are right.”;;
He explained the context behind Ige’s words, saying that many Nigerians saw Abacha as a symbolic representative of the North, and thus doubted the northern politicians’ true opposition to his regime.
Lamido further revealed that after this confrontation, the northern members returned home to form their own pressure group dedicated to challenging Abacha’s military government.
This new coalition included diverse voices such as university lecturer Dr. Usman Bugaje and retired Colonel Dangiwa Umar.
However, some influential northern leaders, including ex-Kaduna State governor, Balarabe Musa and Chief Sunday Awoniyi, declined to join the movement.
