In a revealing interview with the Nigerian Tribune published on June 12, 2025, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chief Adeniyi Akintola expressed dismay that loyalists of the late General Sani Abacha, who opposed the June 12, 1993 struggle, now hold key positions as legislators and ministers.
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Reflecting on Nigeria’s 26 years of democracy, Akintola, a pro-democracy activist during the June 12 era, criticized the lack of recognition for true heroes of the struggle while praising President Bola Tinubu’s bold economic reforms, including student loans and tax restructuring, as steps toward addressing poverty.
Akintola, who served as Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly during the Abacha-era diarchy, described June 12 as a landmark worth celebrating, honoring unsung heroes like Comrade Moshood Erubami, who lost a leg after 27 imprisonments, and others like Femi Falana, Beko Ransome-Kuti, and Bola Ige, who sacrificed immensely.
He lamented that “those who laid down their lives” are not in leadership, noting that past presidents like Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari, who headed Abacha’s Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), had little connection to the struggle. “The Abacha people are now the ones leading us,” he said, pointing to ministers and legislators who supported the 1993 election annulment.
Recalling his legislative tenure, Akintola highlighted his era’s commitment to accountability, citing a probe into inflated vehicle contract costs under Governor Kolapo Ishola, which led to his kidnapping by political thugs. He contrasted this with today’s “rubber stamp” legislatures, decrying their lack of independence and party discipline. “Ninety-nine percent of them were not part of the June 12 struggle; many were on the other side,” he said, criticizing the National Assembly’s current performance as a setback for democracy.
Akintola dismissed claims by Abacha’s widow that her husband was unaware of June 12’s annulment or saved money for Nigeria, calling her narrative “for the marines.” He recounted the violent suppression of protesters at Gbagi Market in Ibadan, where lives were lost under Abacha’s orders, urging her to apologize to victims’ families. “Nigeria went through hell under her husband; there was no freedom,” he said, noting ongoing efforts by successive Attorneys-General to recover Abacha’s looted funds from foreign banks.
On progressive politics, Akintola declared it “long gone,” blaming deep-pocket politics since 2003 for eroding discipline seen in his 1992 election, when merit trumped money. He shared an anecdote of stepping down as elected Speaker for regional balance, a sacrifice unthinkable today. Citing examples like Iyiola Omisore’s disciplined rise in the Alliance for Democracy, he criticized modern parties for prioritizing wealth over ideology, except in Lagos, where some discipline persists.
Defending Tinubu’s administration, Akintola argued it is tackling poverty through tough but necessary reforms, countering the “rotting” from past indiscipline. He highlighted the student loan scheme as a burden-reliever for parents and praised the elimination of double taxation, predicting future appreciation for Tinubu’s leadership despite current criticism. “A credible leader takes people where they should be, not where they want to go,” he said, rejecting Nigeria’s entitlement culture.
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