By Mohammed Buhari Abacha
August 1985…
In August 1985, a young Youth Corps member had just arrived at the NYSC camp in Kaduna. During the Sallah break, he obtained a pass to travel to Kano. While there, news broke—General Buhari had been overthrown by General Babangida.
As he prepared to return to camp, holding his pack of Sallah meat, he ran into his father in the passage of their home. Casually, his father asked, “By the way, what do you think of the change of government?” Without hesitation, the young Corps member replied, “I don’t like it. I think Buhari was doing a good job.” His father agreed. They said their goodbyes, unaware that it would be their last conversation. His father passed away seven days later while he was still in camp.
Back at the NYSC camp, reactions to the coup were divided—most South Westerners welcomed it, while most Northerners resented it. That division reflected the broader political sentiments of the time.
Many, including this young Corps member, initially held strong reservations about General Babangida. However, with time, perspectives have shifted. In retrospect, Babangida’s ability to engage intellectually and emotionally with all groups—traditional rulers, academics, businessmen, women, soldiers, bureaucrats, and the poor—was a rare quality essential for leadership at the highest level.
There is also a renewed appreciation for the Babangida generation of Northern leaders. Unlike later Northern politicians, who often appear self-serving and politically unaware, these earlier leaders were strategic and decisive in protecting Northern interests. The bold actions taken by young Northerners—most in their twenties—during the July 1966 counter-coup remain, arguably, the most significant moment of self-preservation for the North. Without it, Northerners might have long been reduced to second-class citizens in Nigeria. Today, however, a new Northern political class blindly supports national candidates without securing tangible benefits for their region.
There is much about Nigerian history that needs to be documented. The late Gidado Idris once revealed in an interview how ‘revolutionary’ Chukwuma Nzeogwu demanded and received £50,000 from the Northern Regional Government—on the 15th of the month—claiming it was to pay soldiers’ salaries, as if there was no Army Pay Office. Then there is Maitama Sule’s chilling account of how a staff member of President Azikiwe confided at the airport, “I am sure the president won’t return until something evil happens.” And indeed, Azikiwe did not return until after the assassinations of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello, Zakariya Maimalari, Yakubu Pam, and Abogo Largema.
February 2025…
With this historical perspective in mind, the book launch of General Babangida’s A Journey in Service was highly anticipated. Over time, Babangida had gained some respect for his handling of the June 12 annulment, as he consistently “accepted responsibility” without excessive detail—perhaps the safest and most honorable stance he could take. However, in writing, he undermined his own credibility.
In his book, Babangida appeared to have two goals: first, to place General Sani Abacha as the primary culprit behind the annulment, and second, to appease the South West. He failed on both counts.
A comparison between General Babangida’s account and Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar’s writings on the annulment, alongside undeniable truths from Nigeria’s history, tells a different story. The portrayal of General Abacha as a mere tool, a thoughtless brute, or a soldier without real influence does not hold up.
If Abacha was such an obstacle, why didn’t Babangida retire or dismiss him? Was Babangida not the same Commander-in-Chief who sidelined his own number two, replacing him with a ministerial appointment? Was he not the man who declared he was trained to “dominate his environment”? Was he not the leader who executed his childhood friend on coup charges?
General Sani Abacha was not just another officer—he was a strategic mind, fearless, and highly competent. He was the military’s go-to man, a force they always needed and secretly feared. His legacy remains complex, but his role in Nigeria’s history cannot be dismissed.
May God forgive his shortcomings.
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