About the Book

June 12 & Interim National Government

In my discussion with Babangida, being the first time we met, he found me genuine, with no pretentions and even maybe naïve. Then he asked me, “Sule what do I do?” In my naïve and innocent way, I told him frankly, “Sir, you must resign and leave office.” Immediately I said that his countenance changed. I saw fire in his eyes; for some minutes he was speechless.

… we agreed to form the Interim Government. As for us, so long as it was going to lead to the exit of Babangida, we were relieved … It was a meeting of three independent groups, the two political parties and the military government. Two political parties went for elections; one won and the other lost…The government had already made a commitment by a military decree. They said, “Let us nullify Abiola’s electoral victory”, then they turned round to ask, “How do we get out of this cul-de-sac?” …

The choice of Obasanjo as the PDP candidate for the presidential election was to heal the June 12 wound. We, as nationalists seeking for quality leadership and unity, saw it that way…We were concerned about the welfare and unity of the country … We, therefore, reached the consensus to unite the country by appeasing the majority of the Yoruba people, but not their political flag-wavers…They were not with us when we fielded Abiola for the June 12 election, but had later taken unto themselves the leadership of the ‘struggle’ to declare him the winner. Like I had often asked, “Where were they on June 11?”

No amount of deconstruction and reconstruction, to turn history on its head, can bury the truth.

Minister Foreign Affairs

From day one, I was lucky being Foreign Minister under President Obasanjo, who is an astute diplomat in his own right. Concerning how effective he was as a leader … I recall explaining to him that I needed total autonomy, to function in my role as minister and in running my office, so long as I remain his minister; this I got from him. In all issues concerning the continent, Obasanjo was an unwavering pan-Africanist; he did not need to seek any counsel. He and I shared the same progressive position about Africa and Pan-Africanism; and he trusted my judgement.

Jigawa State Governor

When I came into office as Governor in Jigawa, I wanted to chart a new course by changing the narrative. The young state had been governed largely on whimsical instincts, with no knowledge of where it was coming from and no idea of where it was headed for.

From our first day in government, I resolved to have a social benchmark for my society, below which no one must sink. The vulnerable and the disadvantaged among us, including the blind, crippled, lepers, the mentally-ill and the poor, must be given a pride of place in whatever policies and programmes our government would adopt.

Elder Statesman

Today, looking back at my past, coming from a village, I feel deep gratitude to God for all His favours. I have held positions of a legislator, a minister and a governor, I thank Him for making me what I am, for guiding me and for the gift of my life. I also thank Him for giving me the strength to be able to do what I think is my maximum best, such that I have no regrets whatsoever in life. God has really blessed me. I also feel happy that God had used me to make a difference in some people’s lives.