Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has stated that he and former Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido would not have tolerated the current state of affairs in Nigeria if they were still serving as governors. Speaking at the public presentation of Lamido’s autobiography, “Being True to Myself,” in Abuja, Amaechi reflected on their era as one marked by bold opposition and a commitment to holding the federal government accountable.
Amaechi, who also served as Minister of Transportation and chaired the Nigeria Governors Forum during Lamido’s second tenure, said, “We would have confronted the government, confronted the president. That’s how radical you were. That’s how our Governors Forum operated. That’s how determined we were to change things.” He recalled their close political relationship, noting that while they were allies in government, their paths diverged over strategy in opposing then-President Goodluck Jonathan. Amaechi explained that Lamido eventually left for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), while others remained with the APC.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, used the occasion to reaffirm his commitment to inclusive democracy. Tinubu welcomed constructive criticism and emphasized that opposition is part of a healthy contest of ideas, stating, “Every citizen, regardless of party affiliation, has a seat at the table of national discourse.”
Former Military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, represented by Professor Attahiru Jega, commended Lamido for his introspection and honesty in recounting his life journey. Jega said the book adds value to understanding both Lamido’s background and the broader complexities of Nigerian politics and governance.
During the event, Lamido called on President Tinubu to pay the N45 billion allegedly owed to the late Chief MKO Abiola’s family for government contracts executed by Abiola’s company, International Telephone and Telecommunications (ITT). Lamido argued that settling this longstanding debt would help close the chapter on the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo also spoke at the launch, describing Nigeria as “a work in progress” and urging leaders not to rest until the country’s development goals are achieved. Obasanjo recounted how Lamido became his foreign affairs minister and praised his diplomatic efforts in restoring Nigeria’s international image.
Reviewing the book, former Senate President Iyorchia Ayu encouraged Lamido to write further volumes detailing his time as foreign affairs minister and governor of Jigawa. Ayu described Lamido as a fierce critic of the current political dispensation, noting that Lamido views the APC era as a disaster and continues to speak truth to power.
