Ibrahim Babangida | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| 8th President of Nigeria | |
| In office 27 August 1985 – 26 August 1993 | |
| Vice President |
|
| Preceded by | Muhammadu Buhari (asMilitary Head of State) |
| Succeeded by | Ernest Shonekan (asInterim Head of State) |
| Chief of Army Staff | |
| In office 1 January 1984 – 26 August 1985 | |
| Preceded by | Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi |
| Succeeded by | Sani Abacha |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1941-08-17)17 August 1941 (age 84) |
| Party | Peoples Democratic Party |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Royal Armoured Centre |
| Occupation |
|
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Nigeria |
| Branch |  Nigerian Army |
| Service years | 1962–1993 |
| Rank | General |
| Conflict | Nigerian Civil War |
Ibrahim Badamasi BabangidaListenⓘGCFRGCB (born 17 August 1941) is a Nigerian general and politician who ruled as militarypresident of Nigeria from 1985 when heorchestrated a coup d'état againstMuhammadu Buhari, until his resignation in 1993[1] as a result of thecrisis of the Third Republic.[2]
He rose through the ranks of theNigerian Army fighting in theNigerian Civil War and at various times being involved in almost all themilitary coups in Nigeria, before advancing to the rank of aGeneral and ultimately asCommander-in-Chief of theArmed Forces; and as an unelected President andmilitary dictator from 1985 to 1993, ruling for an uninterrupted period of eight years. His years in power, colloquially known as theBabangida Era,[3] are considered one of the most controversial in Nigerian political and military history, being characterized by a burgeoning political culture ofcorruption in Nigeria,[4] with Babangida and his regime estimated to have misappropriated at least 12 billion dollars (23.9 billion today).[5]
The Babangida regime oversaw the establishment of a state security apparatus, survived two coup d'état attempts, and the subsequent execution ofMamman Vatsa (1985) andGideon Orkar (1990) alongside the trial of hundreds of soldiers. The Babangida era also witnessed the assassination inLagos of a prominent journalist namedDele Giwa (1986).[6] The regime also faced a series of ethnic and religious outbreaks related to the fallout of Babangida's decision to increase cooperation with theMuslim world and rise in extremist tendencies. On the continent, his rule projected the country as a regional power with diplomatic successes including theAbuja Treaty and the military engagement of Nigerian troops inLiberia andSierra Leone.
Abroad, Babangida's military regime cemented traditional relations with the English-speaking world of theUnited States and theUnited Kingdom, and implementedeconomic liberalization and the privatization of state-owned enterprises alongside a nationalmass mobilization. The fall of Babangida and his regime was precipitated by the transition toward theThird Nigerian Republic and the subsequent militarization of politics in the1993 presidential election which he annulled.
Ibrahim Babangida was born on 17 August 1941 inMinna to Muhammad and Aisha Babangida.[7] He received early Islamic education before attending primary school from 1950 to 1956.[8] From 1957 to 1962 Babangida attendedGovernment College Bida, together with classmatesAbdulsalami Abubakar,Mamman Vatsa,Mohammed Magoro,Sani Bello,Garba Duba,Gado Nasko andMohammed Sani Sami.[9]Babangida joined the Nigerian Army on 10 December 1962, where he attended theNigerian Military Training College inKaduna.[10] Babangida received his commission as asecond lieutenant as a regular combatant officer in theRoyal Nigerian Army (a month before it became the Nigerian Army) with the personal army number N/438 from theIndian Military Academy on 26 September 1963.[11] Babangida attended theIndian Military Academy from April to September 1963.
He was Commanding Officer of 1 Reconnaissance Squadron from 1964 to 1966. From January 1966 to April 1966, Babangida attended the Younger Officers Course at theRoyal Armoured Centre in the United Kingdom – where he received instruction ingunnery and theSaladin armored car.[12] Lieutenant Babangida was posted with the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron inKaduna, and witnessed the events of the bloodycoup d'état of 1966, which resulted in the assassination ofSir Ahmadu Bello. Alongside several young officers fromNorthern Nigeria, he took part in theJuly counter-coup led byMurtala Mohammed which ousted GeneralAguiyi Ironsi replacing him with GeneralYakubu Gowon.[13]
Following the outbreak of the civil war, Babangida was recalled and posted to the1st Division under the command of GeneralMohammed Shuwa.[14] In 1968, he became commander of the 44 Infantry Battalion which was involved in heavy fighting withinBiafran territory. In 1969, during a reconnaissance operation fromEnugu toUmuahia, the battalion came under heavy enemy fire and Babangida was shot on the right side of his chest.[15] He was then hospitalized in Lagos, and was given the option of removing the bullet shrapnel, which he refused and still carries with him.[16] Away and recovering from his wounds, Babangida marriedMaryam King on 6 September 1969. He returned to the war front in December 1969, commanding a battalion.[17] In January 1970, Babangida was informed by his sectional commander GeneralTheophilus Danjuma of the capitulation of theBiafran Army to the federal military government inLagos, signaling the end of the war.[18]
In 1970, following the war Babangida was promoted twice and posted to theNigerian Defence Academy as an instructor. From August 1972 to June 1973, he attended the Advanced Armoured Officers Course at theUnited States Army Armor School. In 1973, he was made commander of the 4 Reconnaissance Regiment. In 1975, he became the commander of the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps. Babangida attended several defence and strategy courses. Colonel Babangida as Commander of the Armoured Corps was a key participant in thecoup d'état of 1975.[19]
He was later appointed as one of the youngest members of theSupreme Military Council from 1 August 1975 to October 1979. Colonel Babangida crushed almost single-handedly thecoup d'état of 1976 that resulted in the assassination of GeneralMurtala Mohammed by taking back control of theRadio Nigeria station from the main perpetrator, Lieutenant ColonelBuka Suka Dimka. From January 1977 to July 1977, he attended the Senior Officers Course at theArmed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji. From 1979 to 1980, he attended the Senior Executive Course at theNational Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies.[19]
Babangida was the Director of Army Staff Duties and Plans from 1981 to 1983.[20] He was the main figure behind thecoup d'ètat of 1983 which led to the overthrow of theSecond Republic, with financial backing from his close associate and businessmanMoshood Abiola.[21] Babangida alongside his other co-conspirators later appointed the most senior serving officer at the time General Muhammadu Buhari as military head of state from 1983 to 1985; and Babangida was promoted and appointed asChief of Army Staff and member of theSupreme Military Council.[22]
Following the coup d'état of 1983, General Babangida (then Chief of Army Staff) started scheming to overthrow military head of state General Muhammadu Buhari. Thepalace coup of 1985 was orchestrated with a degree of military deftness hitherto not observed in prior military coups in the country. The whole affair carried out by Babangida as ringleader was planned at the highest levels of the army cultivating his strategic relationship with allies:Sani Abacha,Aliyu Gusau,Halilu Akilu,Mamman Vatsa,Gado Nasko, and younger officers from his days as an instructor in the military academy (graduates of the NDA's Regular Course 3), and gradually positioned his allies within the echelons of military hierarchy.[23]
The execution of the palace coup was initially delayed due to GeneralTunde Idiagbon the 6thChief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, and ruthless second-in-command to General Muhammadu Buhari. At midnight on 27 August 1985, the plot metamorphosed with four Majors:Sambo Dasuki,Abubakar Dangiwa Umar,Lawan Gwadabe, andAbdulmumini Aminu detailed to arrest the head of state.[24] By daybreak, the conspirators had taken over the government and Babangida flew into Lagos from Minna where he was announced as the new commander-in-chief in a radio broadcast by GeneralSani Abacha. Babangida justified the coup in a speech describing General Muhammadu Buhari's military regime as "too rigid".[25]
Babangidaruling by decree promulgated his official title as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and placed Muhammadu Buhari under house arrest inBenin until 1988. He established theArmed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) as the highest law-making council serving as chairman; he also restructured the national security apparatus, tasking GeneralAliyu Gusau as Co-ordinator of National Security directly reporting to him in the president's office he created the:State Security Service (SSS),National Intelligence Agency (NIA) andDefence Intelligence Agency (DIA).[26]
Shortly after coming to power General Babangida established the Nigerian Political Bureau of 1986. The bureau was inaugurated to conduct a national debate on the political future of Nigeria, and was charged amongst other things to:
Review Nigeria’s political history and identify the basic problems which have led to our failure in the past and suggest ways of resolving and coping with these problems.
The exercise was the broadest political consultation conducted in Nigerian history.
Between 1983 and 1985, the country suffered an economic crisis. In 1986, Babangida launched theStructural Adjustment Program (SAP), with support from theInternational Monetary Fund (IMF) and theWorld Bank, to restructure the Nigerian economy. In 1987, Babangida launched theMass Mobilization for Self Reliance, Social Justice and Economic Recovery (MAMSER), following a recommendation from the Political Bureau, to increase self-reliance and economic recovery. The policies involved in the SAP and MAMSER were:
Between 1986 and 1988, these policies were executed as intended by the IMF, and theNigerian economy actually did grow as had been hoped, with the export sector performing especially well. But falling real wages in the public sector and among the urban classes, along with a drastic reduction in expenditure on public services, set offwaves of rioting and other manifestations of discontent that made a sustained commitment to the SAP difficult to maintain.[27]
Babangida contributed to the development of national infrastructure. He finished the construction of theThird Mainland Bridge, the largest bridge on the continent at the time. His administration also saw the completion of the dualising of the Kaduna-Kano highway. Babangida also completed theShiroro Hydroelectric Power Station. He had the Toja Bridge in Kebbi constructed. He also created the Jibia Water Treatment Plant and theChallawa Cenga Dam inKano. Babangida also founded theFederal Road Safety Corps in order to better manage the national roads. On 23 September 1987, Babangida created two states:Akwa Ibom State andKatsina State. On 27 August 1991, Babangida created nine more states:Abia,Enugu,Delta,Jigawa,Kebbi,Osun,Kogi,Taraba, andYobe.[28] Bringing the total number ofstates in Nigeria to thirty in 1991. Babangida also increased the share of oil royalties and rents to states of origin from 1.5 to 3 percent.[29] Babangida and hisMinisters of the Federal Capital Territory led byMamman Vatsa,Hamza Abdullahi and later GeneralGado Nasko, led the regime's relocation of the seat of government from Lagos toAbuja on 12 December 1991.[30]
Babangida strengthened theforeign relations of Nigeria. He rejected apartheid inSouth Africa, involved Nigerian troops in theLiberian Civil War, hosted theAbuja Treaty which gave rise to theAfrican Union and enhanced relations with the United States and the United Kingdom.[3] In 1986, Nigeria joined theOrganisation of Islamic Cooperation an international organisation considered the "collective voice of theMuslim world". This move was welcomed inNorthern Nigeria, where there is a Muslim majority population. However, non-Muslims criticised the move likening it to an Islamisation agenda of Nigeria, a secular country. Babangida's then second-in-command CommodoreEbitu Okoh Ukiwe, opposed the decision to join the Islamic organization and was removed as Chief of General Staff.[31] Close to the end of his tenure, he paid a state visit to the queen of the United Kingdom making him the second Nigerian leader after Yakubu Gowon to do so.
In 1989, Babangida started making plans for the transition to theThird Nigerian Republic. He legalized the formation of political parties and formed the two-party system with theSocial Democratic Party (SDP) andNational Republican Convention (NRC) ahead of the1992 general elections. He urged all Nigerians to join either of the parties, which the late ChiefBola Ige famously referred to as "two leper hands." The two-party state had been a Political Bureau recommendation. In November 1991, after a census was conducted, theNational Electoral Commission (NEC) announced on 24 January 1992 that bothlegislative elections to a bicameralNational Assembly and a presidential election would be held later that year. A process of voting was adopted, referred to asOption A4. This process advocated that any candidate needed to pass through adoption for all elective positions from the local government, state government, and federal government.
The1992 parliamentary election went ahead as planned, with theSocial Democratic Party (SDP) winning majorities in both houses of theNational Assembly, but on 7 August 1992, the NEC annulled the first round of 1992 presidential primaries. Babangida annulled the 7 August presidential primaries whichShehu Yar'Adua emerged as the SDP presidential candidate andAdamu Ciroma as the NRC candidate order to get rid of the old guard in both parties. In January 1993, Babangida rejigged the ruling military junta – theAFRC – replacing it with the National Defence and Security Council, as the supreme decision-making organ of the regime. He also appointedErnest Shonekan Head of the Transitional Council and de jure Head of Government. At the time, the transitional council was designed to be the final phase leading to a scheduled handover to an elected democratic leader in the slated1993 presidential election.
On 12 June 1993, the presidential election was finally held. The results though not officially declared by theNational Electoral Commission – showed the duo ofMoshood Abiola andBabagana Kingibe of theSocial Democratic Party (SDP) defeatedBashir Tofa andSlyvester Ugoh of theNational Republican Convention (NRC) by over 2.3 million votes in the1993 presidential election. The elections were later annulled by military head of state General Babangida, citing electoral irregularities. The annulment led to widespread protests and political unrest in Abiola's stronghold of theSouth West, as many felt Babangida had ulterior motives, and did not want to cede power toMoshood Abiola, aYoruba businessman. Babangida later admitted that the elections were annulled due to national security considerations,[32] which he didn't specify.[33]
The lingering 12 June crisis led to the resignation of General Babangida in August 1993. Babangida signed a decree establishing theInterim National Government led byErnest Shonekan. As interim president, Shonekan initially appointed Abiola as hisvice president, who refused to recognize the interim government, the crisis lingered for monthsculminating in the seizure of power by GeneralSani Abacha. Babangida at the height of the crisis stated "If I am sleeping and I hear the Yorubas beating the drums of war, I would go back to sleep."
From his hilltop residence in Minna, Babangida has cultivated apatronage system which cuts across the entire country. In 1998, Babangida was instrumental in the transition to democracy. Babangida is one of the founders of thePeoples Democratic Party alongside other prominent military generals such asAliyu Mohammed Gusau. They were said to have supported GeneralOlusegun Obasanjo in the1999 Nigerian presidential election in order to springboard themselves back to power.
In August 2006, Babangida announced that he would run in the2007 Nigerian presidential election.[34][35] He said he was doing so "under the banner of the Nigerian people" and accused the country's political elite of fuelling Nigeria's current ethnic and religious violence.[36] On 8 November 2006, General Babangida picked up a nomination form from the Peoples Democratic Party headquarters in Abuja. This effectively put to rest any speculation about his ambitions to run for the Presidency. His form was personally issued to him by thePDP chairman,Ahmadu Ali. This action immediately drew extreme reactions of support or opposition from the southwest. In December, just before the presidential primaries, it was widely reported in Nigerian newspapers that Babangida had withdrawn his candidacy. In a letter excerpted in the media, IBB is quoted as citing the "moral dilemma" of running againstUmaru Yar'Adua, the younger brother of the late GeneralShehu Yar'Adua, as well as against GeneralAliyu Mohammed Gusau, given IBB's close relationship with the latter two. It is widely believed that his chances of winning were slim.[37][38]
In September 2010, Babangida officially declared his intention to run for the presidency in the2011 presidential election inAbuja, Nigeria.[39] Babangida was later urged by his military inner circle to withdraw his candidacy after theOctober 2010 Abuja bombing. PresidentGoodluck Jonathan later emerged as the PDP presidential candidate and throughout his presidency sought counsel from Babangida and his military inner circle.[40]
In 2015, following theelection of his long-time rival General Muhammadu Buhari as president, Babangida maintained a low profile. In 2017, Babangida had corrective surgery.[41] He is considered a foremost elder statesman, and has called for a generational shift in leadership to allow for a new crop of leaders to replace the 1966 military class.[42]
Speaking during the release of his biography on February 20, 2025, Babangida finally expressed regret for cancelling the 1993 elections, declaring that the elections had been free and fair, and that MKO Abiola indeed won.[43][44]
"Undoubtedly credible, free and fair elections were held on 12 June 1993....However, the tragic irony of history remains that the administration that devised a near-perfect electoral system and conducted those near-perfect elections could not complete the process. ...That accident of history is most regrettable. The nation is entitled to expect my expression of regret."[43]
A biopic titledBadamasi: Portrait of a General which chronicled his early life, life during theNigerian Civil War as well as his time as the military head of state was produced byObi Emelonye and released in cinemas on 12 June 2020.[45]
Babangida was married toMaryam Babangida from 1969 until her death in 2009. They had four children together; Aisha, Muhammad, Aminu, and Halima. On 27 December 2009, Maryam Babangida died from complications of ovarian cancer.[46]
Babaginda once described himself as an "evil genius",[47][48] a nickname that stuck.[49][50][51] HistorianToyin Falola described him as "affable and cunning, he was a master ofdouble-speak, deceit, and ambiguity."[52] He was also nicknamed "Maradona"[53][54] for his "ability to outwit potential opponents and dictate the terms of the political game"[55] and because "his political deviousness was reminiscent of the legendaryArgentine soccer star's skilful dribbling."[56]
Babangida is rumoured to be worth over US$5 billion.[57] He is believed to secretly possess a multi-billion dollar fortune via successive ownership of stakes in a number of Nigerian companies.[58]
MagazineForbes assumed in 2011 that shortly before theFirst Gulf War Babangida channelled US$12 billion of unplanned profits ("oil windfall") into his own pocket (theoil price jumped from US$15/barrel to US$41.15/barrel within weeks in 1990 and then crashed almost as quickly to the old value).[5] Investigations into this did not lead to any concrete results.[59] A critical remark is that the additional profit of US$12 billion calculated by Forbes could only have been realised if Nigeria had sold the entire annual production volume of 630 million barrels exactly on 27 September 1990 at the annual peak price of US$41/barrel − instead of the officially stated US$22/barrel average during the whole year.[60] This is unlikely in view of the long-term supply contracts in the oil business and the sluggishness of the state-owned oil companyNNPC. Babangida commented in 2022 on the above allegations that he and his staff had been "saints".[61]
During his military career, Babangida attained the following ranks:
| Year | Insignia | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 |  | Second Lieutenant |
| 1966 |  | Lieutenant |
| 1968 |  | Captain |
| 1970 |  | Major |
| 1970 |  | Lieutenant Colonel |
| 1973 |  | Colonel |
| 1979 |  | Brigadier General |
| 1983 |  | Major General |
| 1987 |  | General |
| Year | Country | Decoration | Presenter | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Nigeria | Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR);_-_Nigeria_-_ribbon_bar.gif) | Shehu Shagari | Third highest national honour in Nigeria |
| Nigeria | Defence Service Medal (DSM);_-_ribbon_bar.png) | Nigerian Army | Military award | |
| Nigeria | Forces Services Star (FSS);_-_ribbon_bar.png) | Nigerian Army | Military award | |
| Nigeria | General Service Medal (GSM);_-_ribbon_bar.png) | Nigerian Army | Military award | |
| Nigeria | National Service Medal (NSM);_-_ribbon_bar.png) | Nigerian Army | Military award | |
| 1985 | Nigeria | Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR); | Himself | Highest national honour in Nigeria |
| Year | Country | Decoration | Presenter | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Yugoslavia | Order of the Yugoslav Great Star | Raif Dizdarević | Highest decoration of Yugoslavia[62] |
| 1989 | United Kingdom | Honorary Knight Grand Cross of theOrder of the Bath (GCB)Military division; | Elizabeth II | Fourth-most senior of theBritish Orders of Chivalry |
| 1989 | Zimbabwe | Freedom of the City of Harare | Robert Mugabe | Prestigious national honour in Zimbabwe |
| 1990 | Equatorial Guinea | Grand Collar of the Order of the Independence | Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo | Highest national honour in Equatorial Guinea |
Former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) has said that his initial plan in life was to become an civil engineer, but the decision by the then government of Northern Nigeria that youths of his time should be enlisted into the Nigerian army changed the course of his destiny.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Chief of the Army Staff 1984–1985 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of the Armed Forces Ruling Council of Nigeria 17 August 1985 – 26 August 1993 | Succeeded by |
| Queen (1960–1963) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| President of theFirst Republic (1963–1966) | ||
| Military regime (1966–1979) | ||
| President of theSecond Republic (1979–1983) | ||
| Military regime (1983–1999) | ||
| President of theFourth Republic (from 1999) | ||
*Civilian; headed transition to abortiveThird Republic | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
