Former Nigerian Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has offered insight into Nigeria’s past leaders in his memoir A Journey in Service launched recently.
IBB spoke about his recollections of their leadership styles and personal interactions which revealed the picture of the men who shaped the Nigeria’s history and also provide a mix of admiration, criticism, and political pragmatism.
IBB ruled Nigeria from 1985 when he orchestrated a coup d’état against his military and political arch-rival Muhammadu Buhari, until his resignation in 1993.
WikkiTimes analyses IBB’s views on seven key figures in Nigeria’s history: General Muhammadu Buhari, General Murtala Muhammed, General Olusegun Obasanjo, General Yakubu Gowon, General Sani Abacha, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, and President Shehu Shagari.
While Buhari, Obasanjo, Gowon and Abubakar are still alive, others, Murtala, Abacha and Shagari have died.
Yakubu Gowon: The Overthrown Statesman
IBB painted Gowon as a leader caught between caution and decisiveness. In the book, he narrateed how Gowon, despite being aware of the coup plot against him in 1975, failed to act decisively, ultimately leading to his ouster while he was attending an OAU summit in Uganda.
“However, the plot details were leaked to Gowon weeks before the exercise..… From all accounts, Gowon either didn’t believe the security reports or, being his old cautious and circumspect self, felt that it was most unlikely that his most trusted aides would move against him.”
He recounts that Gowon handled his removal with remarkable grace, joking about his ‘retirement’ to foreign journalists.
He recalled Gowon’s role in keeping Nigeria united during the civil war, also suggested that his inability to implement necessary reforms post-war made his administration vulnerable to discontent within the military.
Murtala Muhammed: A Complex, Uncompromising Reformer
Babangida provides a nuanced portrayal of General Murtala Muhammed, recognizing him as an impulsive yet determined leader.
He acknowledges Murtala’s fiery temperament but notes that, contrary to public perception, the late leader displayed a softer, more humane side in private settings.
Murtala’s tenure was short-lived, but Babangida admired his decisive actions, including the move to relocate Nigeria’s capital to Abuja and the rapid creation of new states.
He recalls how Murtala refused to be part of a ‘collective leadership’ and insisted on absolute control, a trait that solidified his authority but also made him a target for opposition within the military that culminated to the bloody coup in 1976.
Olusegun Obasanjo: A Reluctant But Strategic Successor
Babangida describes Obasanjo as a leader who never sought power but ultimately accepted it after Murtala’s assassination in 1976.
He highlighted Obasanjo’s initial reluctance to take over as head of state and how General Theophilus Danjuma had to persuade him to assume the position.
Despite this, Babangida credits Obasanjo with successfully overseeing Nigeria’s transition to civilian rule in 1979.
While acknowledging Obasanjo’s contributions, Babangida notes that his military successor-turned-civilian president displayed a blend of strategic acumen and authoritarian tendencies throughout his political career.
Shehu Shagari: A President Overwhelmed by Military Intrigue
In discussing Shehu Shagari, Nigeria’s first executive president, Babangida reflects on the military’s growing discontent with civilian governance in the early 1980s.
He describes how widespread corruption and economic mismanagement plagued the Shagari administration, making it easy for the military to justify its intervention in 1983.
However, IBB did not personally attack Shagari; instead, he presents him as a well-meaning leader who was unable to control the excesses of those around him.
His removal paved the way for the Buhari-led coup, setting the stage for Babangida’s own rise to power.
Muhammadu Buhari: A Leader Too Rigid for Nigeria’s Complexity
IBB’s relationship with Buhari was marked by both comradeship and political divergence. He served as Buhari’s Chief of Army Staff following the 1983 coup that toppled the civilian government of Shagari.
However, he soon became dissatisfied with Buhari’s leadership style, which he described as rigid and detrimental to national progress.
He criticized Buhari’s handling of governance, particularly his intolerance for dissent and perceived high-handedness.
The book revealed this as the reason that ultimately led to the 1985 coup that ousted Buhari, ushering in his own military presidency.
Sani Abacha: A Complicated and Secretive Ally
Babangida’s reflections on General Sani Abacha reveal a relationship that evolved from trust to distrust.
He credits Abacha with helping him seize power in 1985 but later expresses shock at Abacha’s hidden ambitions and secretive nature.
Babangida notes that Abacha was indifferent to a return to civilian rule, a contrast to Babangida’s more strategic approach to governance.
He recounts discovering Abacha’s deep-seated hatred for Moshood Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993, election.
Ultimately, Babangida portrays Abacha as a power-hungry figure who was willing to undermine even his closest allies for personal gain.
Abdulsalami Abubakar: The Quiet Stabilizer
In his book, IBB described General Abdulsalami Abubakar, his long-time friend and classmate, as a quiet but effective leader.
Though not deeply explored in the memoir, he acknowledges Abubakar’s role in stabilizing Nigeria after Abacha’s sudden death in 1998.
He credits him with successfully organizing Nigeria’s transition to democracy in 1999, restoring hope after years of military rule.
Babangida’s tone suggests a level of admiration for Abubakar’s ability to maintain order during a delicate period in the nation’s history.
The IBB’s A Journey in Service book offers an insider’s view of Nigeria’s leadership history, marked by military coups, power struggles, and shifting allegiances.
While he portrays himself as a strategic and pragmatic leader, his assessments of others reveal the complex dynamics of governance in Nigeria.
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