Real reason we overthrew Buhari, Idiagbon’s regime – Babangida

Former Nigerian military head of state, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has disclosed that he orchestrated the removal of Muhammadu Buhari’s regime due to dissatisfaction with the regime’s policies and leadership approach.

Babangida, who served as Chief of Army Staff during Buhari’s rule following the December 31, 1983 coup against Shehu Shagari’s civilian administration, shared these insights in his autobiography, A Journey In Service, launched in Abuja on Thursday.

He recounted how Buhari’s administration enacted harsh decrees that curtailed citizens’ fundamental rights and freedoms. Babangida explained that he saw these policies, along with the leadership style of Buhari and his deputy, Tunde Idiagbon, as detrimental to the country’s progress.

“After the military coup that replaced the civilian government of Shehu Shagari with a military regime led by Major General Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida assumed the role of Chief of Army Staff. However, he became increasingly dissatisfied with the Buhari government’s policies and leadership style, which he believed were detrimental to the nation’s progress. This dissatisfaction eventually led to its ouster in 1985, and he took office as the military President,” the book reads.

Babangida recounted traveling from Minna to Lagos on August 27, 1985, to take over leadership, stating that tensions had been mounting for months, making a change inevitable.

“On that day, it became my lot to step into the saddle of national leadership on behalf of the Nigerian armed forces. The change in leadership had become necessary as a response to the worsening mood of the nation and growing concern about our future as a people,” IBB wrote.

He expressed concern that the military’s unity was deteriorating, threatening the nation’s stability.

“By the beginning of 1985, the citizenry had become apprehensive about the future of our country. The atmosphere was precarious and fraught with ominous signs of clear and present danger. It was clear to the more discerning leadership of the armed forces that our initial rescue mission of 1983 had largely miscarried,” he wrote. “If the armed forces imploded, the nation would go with it, and the end was just too frightening to contemplate.”

Babangida criticized Buhari and Idiagbon for fostering division within the military and creating a climate of fear among citizens.

“Fundamental rights and freedoms were being routinely infringed upon and abused. As a military administration, we were now presiding over a society that was primarily frightened of us,” he said. “We were supposed to improve their lives and imbue the people with hope for a better future. Instead, we ruled the nation with a series of draconian decrees.”

He revealed that senior and mid-level officers collectively decided that leadership needed to change to prevent further deterioration of the country’s situation.

“This tense atmosphere culminated in the unanimous decision of a broad spectrum of senior and middle-level officers to change the nation’s leadership. The processes associated with this change were completed without bloodshed by midnight on August 26, 1985,” Babangida wrote.

In his first national address after taking power, Babangida described Buhari as inflexible, with Idiagbon sharing similar traits, making governance increasingly difficult.

He said removing Buhari’s regime was essential to restoring hope and rebuilding the nation.