Regrets, executions, coups and a love story: Four takeaways from former Nigerian military ruler IBB book

BBC News

25-02-2025

Nigeria former military ruler Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, wey many pipo know as IBB, don release one new autobiography including several revelations about di tough times wen im bin dey in charge of di kontri from 1985 to 1993.
Di book - A Journey In Service dey make Nigerians tok and reflect on wetin for happun if tins turn out differently - especially di controversial decision to annul di 1993 elections, and di execution of im childhood friend.
Babangida get mixed record. While some praise am for di infrastructural development Nigeria wey im do, odas say massive corruption bin dey during im time.
Dis na four takeaways from di book:
Di 1993 elections annulment
Dis na di biggest talking-point as e touch one topic wey many believe say change Nigeria history. Some say di kontri still neva really recover from di annulment of di 1993 presidential elections.
For di book, Babangida, now 83, for di first time express deep regret for cancelling dat election.
Di poll bin suppose bring an end to military rule afta 10 years and di cancellation of di outcome throw di kontri into katakata.
Di date of di vote na – 12 June - now e dey remembered for Nigeria as Democracy Day.
E force Gen Babangida to resign.
Moshood Abiola, wey many pipo believe say na im win di election, later go prison and dem assassinate im wife.
Nigeria current President, Bola Tinubu, say Gen Babangida book launch show courage to admit wetin bin happun .
"Dat accident of history na di most regrettable. Di nation dey entitled to expect my expression of regret," Babangida write.
Gen Babangida, popularly known as IBB, acknowledge say Abiola, wey die for 1998, bin win di election.
However, for 1993 as dem bin dem gada di results, di military goment stop di process – dat action cause widespread protests and political crisis.
At dat time, dem bin cite di issue of vote-buying, as well as di need to protect di kontri judiciary as reasons for di annulment.
Abiola son Jamiu say di acknowledgment by Gen Babangida say im father bin win di election come as welcome surprise to am and some of im family members.
"Perhaps General Babangida dey look for peace," im tell BBC Focus on Africa podcast.
Eventually dem restore civilian rule for 1999, 11 months afta di death of anoda military ruler Sani Abacha.
Execution of a childhood friend
General Mamman Vatsa and Babangida bin grow up togeda, dem bin dey di same class for school and dem rise alongside each oda for military. Im execution for 1986 afta im chop conviction of one coup plot na anoda major talking-point of Babangida presidency.
"We be very close friends," Babangida recall.
"We bin grow up togeda for Minna and we be classmates for Bida. We do several tins together as peers. My wife remember say we bin dey share a room as bachelors. We go reach out for whatever shirt bin dey available, irrespective of who get am, and just wear am and go out! We bin dey very close."
However, im say na now im realise say Vatsa bin dey jealous am since wey dem be teenagers.
"Wit di benefit of hindsight now, I remember one constant part of our relationship as teenagers and young men na a continuous peer jealousy on im part towards me. Im bin always dey envious of my achievements, especially wen I tink say I dey progress pass am, either for school or our military career path."
Dem execute Vatsa and nine odas for March 1986. Sake of planned coup, wey according to Babangida go put di kontri into darkness.
"I bin get to choose between saving a friend life and di nation future," im write.
Nigeria first coup
Anoda serious issue na di1966 coup wey overthrew Nigeria first goment afta independence from UK. Dem kill Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, along wit oda high-ranking national and regional leaders.
Di fact say most of di coup plotters bin come from south-eastern Nigeria mean say di coup come dey known as an "Igbo coup" - na label wey Babangida reject.
Im highlight di role of Major John Obienu, an ethnic Igbo officer, wey play a key role in ending di coup, e reveal say many senior Igbo officers also die for di mutiny.
Di book also shed light on the involvement of members of oda ethnic groups, notably Yorubas, many of whom im say bin participate for di military takeover.
Di former leader confam di original intention of di coup plotters na to release politician Obafemi Awolowo from detention and install am as president.
Babangida write: "Na one terrible time for di Nigerian military. As I don tok am bifor, as a young officer wey see all of dis from a distance, probably, ethnic sentiments no drive di original objective of di coup plotters.
"For instance, di head of di plotters, Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, na only 'Igbo' dey im name. Dem born and raise am for Kaduna, im immigrant parents bin come from Okpanam wey today many know as Delta State, wey, for 1966, na di old mid-western region. Nzeogwu bin speak Hausa well-well and dey like any 'Hausa' pesin! im and im original team bin probably think, even if naively, say dem fit turn tins around to make di kontri better.
Di association of Igbos wit di coup bin lead to attacks on members of dat community around di kontri and ultimately to di civil war wia Igbo leaders bin try to secede from Nigeria in 1967. At least one million pipo die in for wetin go become di Biafran war.
Di love story wit Maryam Babangida
Many Nigerians see Babangida wife Maryam as di kontri most iconic and influential First Lady. From 1985 to wen im leave office for 1993, dia love story totori a lot of pipo. She die for 2009 and di ex-head of state no remarry.
"She bin fine well-well. Her ebony beauty, her set off enchanting eyes, and her dazzling smile dey show her lovely set of teeth; wen she smile – and wen she smile – her face go come out well-well, and her eyes dey dance," Im write.
"Two of us see see our marriage as our freedom and we agree to sort tins out ourselves if we quarrel. We bin dey very compatible; I fit only remember two occasions wey we quarrel, and neither of us bin dey afraid to apologise to each other. In all our years of marriage, e no ever dey necessary for anyone to mediate between us over a misunderstanding becos of diat original meeting of minds."
"I never imagine say Maryam go die bifor me, but di gift of life dey Allah hands, no be for human being. I dey grateful for Maryam life and di fruit of our union. Coping without her no dey easy, but e dey much less demanding by di memories of our life togeda and di length of her shadow," Babangida tok.
Im describe Maryam as a devoted wife, mother, homemaker, and passionate advocate for rural women. Above all, im see her as a true partner.