General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) Nigeria’s former military Head of state will be 27 years after his exit from Nigeria’s influential seat of power.
By 26 of August, General IBB will clock 27 years after voluntarily stepping aside as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
By the time Nigeria got Independence on 1st October 1960, Historians have analyzed that Nigeria never had a military officer as politically wily as General IBB.
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His style of leadership for eight years from 1985 to 1993 made General Ibrahim Babangida more political than the constituency he came from that is the military which is supposed to be apolitical.
IBB was the first Nigerian ruler to title himself, President, because all Nigerian military rulers bear the title of Head of the state except IBB.
That is why the aborted third republic was seen as a Republic Headed by Former military President General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida IBB.
By the year 1992, almost all organs of the Nigerian government were headed by civilians, all the 30 state governors were civilians with the state assemblies working together.
At the National level, the senate was led by Dr. Iyorhia Ayu and Speaker House of representative Honourable Agunwa Anaekwe were working.
The only Head of Democratic government that was not in place was the elected President of Nigeria, a political scientist described IBB’s style of leadership then as Diarchic, a Diarchy is a system of government headed at the top by a military officer and all the subordinating parts of the Federation are led by Civilians.
Professor Attahiru Jega, a Professor of Political science and former chairman of Independent National electoral commission once described Babangida’s incessant shifting of his transition program as Shifting goal post.
When he assumed power on the 27th of August 1985, President IBB promised initially to hand over power back to civilians in 1990, but his shifting goal post made Nigerians and the international community lose faith in the transition program.
IBB’s exit from power as described by some military Historians was unceremonious because the very day he handed over to Chief Ernest Shonekan at state House in Abuja, few convoys of cars were arranged for General Babangida and went straight to Minna by Road, his state of origin.
In what Nigerian Tracker has been following on the evening of August 26 1985 after General Ibrahim Babangida ceases to be the President of Nigeria, a reception was accorded to him by Niger State Government.
Governor Musa Inuwa received General Ibrahim Babangida in Minna, the Niger state capital, Babangida narrated the incidence that led him to seize power from General Muhammadu Buhari in a palace coup in 1985.
Babangida told the gathering in Minna Niger state, that when he was on Edel-Kabir vacation with his family, he was asked to go to Lagos, after the takeover, and it was on that day he took over the mantle of Nigeria’s leadership.
‘’Yau Zuciya na Fara Fat take,” “My heart is very clean” that was what the former Head of state told the crowd that gathers to receive him in Minna after 8 years in Dodon Barracks and Aso Rock as Nigeria’s military Head of state.
It’s now 27 years since he left the corridors of power following the annulment of June 12, 1993, Presidential elections won by Late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawole Abiola.
Before General IBB bows out, he told the national assembly that’’ following lengthy deliberations with my service chiefs, I offer as my personal sacrifice to voluntarily step aside as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”
After he left in 1993, General IBB attempted to return to power through Democratic means but he does not succeed, he attempted to contest the 2007 PDP Presidential primaries but withdrawn for late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua.
He declared his intention to contest again in 2011, but the Northern political elders chose former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to represent the North in the PDP Presidential ticket against President Good luck Jonathan.
Now with 27 years after General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida relinquished power, what is next for the elder-statesman at 80 years?
