By Kingston Magare 30-6-2025
Colonel Abubakar Umar who was bestowed with a national award by President Bola Tinubu for his opposition of the annulment of the June 12, 1993, elections by the ruling military junta under General Ibrahim Babaginda, has list the name of other officers who should also be honoured.
Moshood Abiola was generally believed to have won the election adjudged the free and fair, but it was cancelled by General Babaginda who claimed that he was forced to do so by top Generals including Sanni Abacha. Abiola later died in detention 7 July 1998 under suspicious circumstances.
Amidst of the political upheaval that greeted the move Col. Umar became a voice of resistance, but according to him there were other officers who were also against the annulment of the election. He said in a statement that most of the 38 officers risked their lives and their careers in pursuit of the truth which the Abiola election represented.
“When President Tinubu called to inform me of his decision to magnanimously confer on me the National Award of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) on account of my much-advertised role in the struggle for the validation of the June 12, 1993 election and affirmation of Chief MKO Abiola’s mandate, my first reaction was why only me and not all those unsung heroes.
“Those officers and men who actively participated in that struggle, risking their careers and even lives. Although I was one of the leaders of that movement within the military, my contribution was by no means bigger than theirs. While I have been recognised and celebrated, including this National Honour by the President, they have remained anonymous.
“It is therefore incumbent upon me to reveal the identity of these patriots if only to acknowledge and commend their contributions to the emergence of the current democratic dispensation,” Umar noted.
He listed Col MA Garba, who later became a Major-General, others include Col Lawal Jaafaru Isa; Lt Col UF Ahmed; Lt Col MS Dasuki; Lt Col ML Gwadabe; Lt Col J. Temlong; Lt Col Musa Shehu; Lt Col Chris Eze; Lt Col HM Dzarma and Lt Col Isa Jibrin.
Lt col JOS Oshanupin; Lt Col A Oloruntoba (kabiesi Olugbede of Gbede kingdom); Lt Col Moke; Lt col Happy Bulus; Lt col Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Col J Okai; Col E. Ndubueze; Lt Col Yakubu Muazu; Lt Col Yahaya Abubakar (current Etsu Nupe) and Maj. Saad Abubakar (current Sultan of Sokoto).
Maj Abba Maimalari; Maj Jamil Tahir; Maj Buzugbe; Maj LP Aprezi; Maj MK Yake; Maj J Dawah; Maj Suleiman Wali; Maj Dauda Komo; Maj Lucky Torrie; Maj JS Zaruwa; Maj M Sumaye; Maj Sani Bawa; Maj Ndaliman; Maj Ahmed; Maj M Bawa; Lt Col JB Ahmadu; Capt Junaid Bindawa and Capt Lar.
Umar stated that Chief Abiola won 80 percent of the military votes, which demonstrated that the military was not totally opposed to him being President.
He thanked President Tinubu for the award but warned that he must guard against sycophancy.
“Sycophancy everywhere has become the scourge of selfless and accountable leadership. It is the reason for the arrogance and vanity we see in our leaders at all levels. Men of straw are widely and falsely being elevated to the position of icons by self-seeking sycophants.
“Mr President must lead in a war against sycophancy in all its forms. This must allow for no exceptions including the rapidly growing trend of naming and renaming public institutions, facilities and other infrastructure after a President or State Governor while in office.
“The other day, the Senate President was reported to have predicted that President Bola Tinubu would win the 2027 election with 99.9 per cent of the votes! Even allowing for the fact that this Senate President is widely known for his humorous incitement, Mr President will do well to shun such oracles,” he stated.
President Tinubu and Col. Umar