Military asked me to stop Tinubu from becoming Lagos Gov. in 1999, Marwa reveals
By Samuel Ogunsona
The Nigerian military high command did not want current President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to win the Lagos State Governorship election in 1999, former military Governor of the state Buba Marwa has said.
Irohinoodua can confirm that in 2023, the Mlitary’s reactionary wing, who wish to keep Nigeria under its jack boots, rose in opposition to Tinubu during the Presidential election which he won.
Marwa who was appointed by Tinubu as Chairman National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) said he refused the order from the military high command by chosing to supervise a credible election that reflected the will of the people.
Marwa was the Military Governor of Lagos State when the election was conducted in 1999.
He was governor of Lagos State from 1996 to 1999 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha and Abdulsalami Abubakar. Marwa was previously governor of Borno State from 1990 to 1992 when the dictator General Ibrahim Babangida was in power.
His liberal politics secured the warmth of his host, mainly Yoruba who live in Lagos.
Marwa said the military was not happy to see Tinubu emerge as the Lagos State Governor due to the fear associated with his pro-democracy credentials.
He said the military was worried about Tinubu’s rising popularity and his strong radical posture.
He said he refused to tamper with the results despite pressure
He said the Yoruba people gave him full support eventhough they detested the Federal authority at that time.
The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Marwa in a statement made available to Irohinoodua at the weekend at the launching of the book titled “Buni Boy,” a book authored by Niyi Ayoola-Daniels. The book launching was in Abuja.
The book focused on justice, duty, and national unity—principles Marwa said influenced his career.
He said the overwhelming support he received from Lagos State and his passion for justice drove his commitment to fairness and justice.
Marwa said “While the Head of State at the time, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, did not interfere with the conduct of the election, the military hierarchy attempted to influence the result. They were worried about the growing popularity and strong campaign of Senator Bola Tinubu, who was a prominent NADECO pro-democracy advocate against military rule. I was instructed to stop him from becoming governor.”
He said instead of scuttling the process, he rather encouraged a free and fair election.
“I chose instead to supervise a free and fair election, which produced the most popular candidate as the governor of Lagos State. The rest, as they say, is history,” Marwa said.
