Abuja, June 23, 2025 – Minister of Solid Minerals and veteran political strategist Dele Alake has credited President Bola Tinubu for playing a pivotal role in the emergence of the late MKO Abiola as the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) presidential candidate in 1993.
Alake, who served as Tinubu’s Media and Communications Director during the 2023 APC presidential campaign, spoke passionately about Tinubu’s early political involvement in the struggle for democracy. He noted that Tinubu was instrumental from the outset, mobilising resources and providing organisational support during the SDP primaries that produced Abiola as the party’s flag-bearer .
Describing Tinubu’s leadership style, Alake recalled how the former Lagos governor “threw his hat into the ring with everything he had; men, materials, everything to prosecute the June 12 election.” He added that Tinubu emerged as a key figure in the struggle, coordinating both overt and covert operations through NADECO alongside pro-democracy activists .
Alake emphasised that Tinubu’s role went beyond mere political activism; he was a principal financier and strategist. Funded by his personal resources, Tinubu helped drive the campaign that produced an election widely seen as Nigeria’s freest and fairest — the annulled June 12 poll won by Abiola .
“Tinubu became so admirable in his operational strategies, his capacity and uncanny ability for organisation,” Alake said, noting that Tinubu’s contributions were central to both the primary victory and the subsequent de-annulment struggle.
The account aligns with historical records showing that Tinubu and Alake, both exiles at the time, played leading roles in NADECO’s protests and political mobilisation following the military’s annulment of the June 12 ballot .
As Nigeria commemorates June 12 annually, Tinubu’s contribution, as recounted by Alake, underscores his longstanding influence in the nation’s democratic journey — a legacy that is now being revisited in light of his presidency.
