How Alausa secretly saved NADECO heroes in exile – Bamidele reveals

Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, played a critical behind-the-scenes role in supporting National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) leaders during their years in exile under General Sani Abacha’s military dictatorship.

Speaking during the inauguration of the governing council and principal officers of a federal university in Abuja, Bamidele revealed that Alausa provided medical support and mobilised resources for exiled pro-democracy figures between 1993 and 1999.

He said many of these leaders, including President Bola Tinubu, Professor Wole Soyinka, Chief Anthony Enahoro, and Chief Ayo Opadokun, were forced to flee the country following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

“When most of us fled our fatherland due to threats to our lives and families under the reign of the late tyrant, Dr. Alausa was one of the few people we relied on for years,” Bamidele said.

“He provided hope for us. He provided resources. He provided much-needed medical care for us in exile. Some of the beneficiaries are alive today, while some have gone to be with God.”

The Senate Leader disclosed that at the time, Alausa was a medical doctor undergoing his residency in Internal Medicine at the Royal Bolton Hospital and the University of Newcastle.

Despite his busy schedule abroad, Bamidele noted that Alausa coordinated efforts to ensure exiled NADECO members received critical medical attention—often for injuries sustained during confrontations with security forces back home.

“Many had to undergo knee surgeries in their countries of asylum after sustaining injuries. They suffered from tear gas canisters during disrupted meetings. But in exile, Alausa mobilised medical professionals and resources to support everyone in need,” Bamidele recounted.

In recognition of his contributions, he said Tinubu, upon becoming Lagos State governor in 1999, sought to appoint Alausa as Commissioner for either Health or Education, but said he declined the offer.

“He told Asiwaju that he did not support the pro-democracy cause for any political reward,” Bamidele said.

“He did it purely out of passion for democracy and to ensure the welfare of its advocates.”

The Senate Leader also credited Alausa with initiating widespread medical outreach campaigns across the South-west following the return to democratic governance in 1999.

These included free surgeries, distribution of eyeglasses, and other health services—entirely funded and executed by professionals Alausa mobilised from the diaspora.

“For weeks, they were in the South-west holding different medical outreaches free of charge,” Bamidele said. “As a government, we didn’t pay for their flights, accommodation, or medical care. Alausa implemented the programmes behind the scenes.”

Bamidele further revealed that Tinubu had to persuade Alausa for several weeks before he finally agreed to join the federal cabinet as Minister of Education.

“There was intense pressure on him,” Bamidele noted. “But somehow, along the line, God touched his heart, and he accepted to serve.”