(DDM) — Retired Brigadier‑General Mohamed Buba Marwa says that his decision to conduct a free and fair governorship election in Lagos, which resulted in Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerging as governor, was motivated by respect for Lagosians’ will despite pressure from the military hierarchy.
Marwa made the disclosure while delivering the keynote address at the public presentation of a book titled “Buni Boy,” authored by the late legal luminary Niyi Ayoola‑Daniels, in Abuja on Saturday.
He explained that during his tenure as Military Administrator of Lagos State, the Yoruba people showed him great love and support, a gesture he said came despite widespread hostility toward the federal government at the time.
He recalled that though the Head of State then, Abdulsalami Abubakar, did not interfere in the conduct of the election, the military hierarchy instructed him to prevent Tinubu from becoming governor because of Tinubu’s history of pro‑democracy activism with NADECO.
But Marwa said he deliberately chose to allow Lagosians to decide. He said he yielded to popular demand and conducted a credible election, producing the “most popular candidate” as governor, a decision he now regards as historical.
He added that the support he personally enjoyed from Lagosians during his military administration strengthened his conviction that the people deserved the freedom to choose their leader.
Marwa also used the occasion to reflect on Nigeria’s diversity and unity, stressing that the country’s ethnic and cultural multiplicity should never be a reason for division but rather a strength to be harnessed for national cohesion and stability.
His remarks add a new dimension to debates about governance and elections in Nigeria, especially in contexts where military and political authorities exert heavy influence.
By emphasizing respect for popular will, Marwa’s testimony serves as a reminder that credible elections hinge not only on electoral laws but also on the integrity of those charged with conducting them.