Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, has revealed how powerful civilian governors, top military officers, and the controversial Association for Better Nigeria (ABN) conspired to prolong military rule despite publicly supporting democracy.
In his newly released autobiography, unveiled in Abuja on Thursday, Babangida detailed how these political and military figures worked behind the scenes to sabotage Nigeria’s transition to civilian rule in the early 1990s.
Governors’ Secret Betrayal
According to Babangida, some elected governors under the National Republican Congress (NRC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who took office in January 1992, pressured him to delay the presidential election while outwardly condemning any extension of military rule.
“These governors were just like ABN. They told me to postpone the election but then turned around at their party conventions to accuse me of plotting to stay in power. It was frustrating,” he recalled.
ABN’s Role in the Crisis
Babangida also distanced himself from ABN, a group notorious for opposing the June 12, 1993, presidential election won by Chief MKO Abiola. He admitted that ABN, led by Senator Arthur Nzeribe, emerged unexpectedly and worsened the credibility crisis surrounding his government.
“We later discovered that ABN was bankrolled by Arthur Nzeribe, but by then, many assumed we were behind it,” he explained.
Abacha’s Hidden Agenda
Babangida further disclosed that General Sani Abacha and a clique of military officers were secretly working to undermine his administration, seeing him as the major obstacle to their plans.
“I was shocked to learn that Abacha and others were mobilizing negative sentiments within the military, making me out to be the problem while preparing for a coup,” Babangida wrote.
The Interim National Government (ING) and a Costly Mistake
Faced with pressure from both pro-democracy activists and military hardliners, Babangida said his government created the Interim National Government (ING) as a compromise. Professors Ben Nwabueze and Clement Akpamgbo were tasked with drafting Decree 61 of 1993 to legalize it.
However, Babangida now regrets allowing Abacha to remain in power under the ING, despite appointing Chief Ernest Shonekan as head of the transitional government.
“As we all now know, that was a grave mistake,” he admitted.
Tackling Electoral Malpractices
Babangida also defended his administration’s decision to cancel the 1991 governorship primaries due to allegations of widespread rigging. To restore credibility, he disclosed that 13 prominent political figures were arrested, including General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Abubakar Rimi, Lateef Jakande, Bola Ige, Jim Nwobodo, Olusola Saraki, Solomon Lar, and Arthur Nzeribe.
“The rescheduled primaries were held in five states on December 3, 1991, but only after we arrested and detained 13 political ‘godfathers’ who had influenced the process unfairly,” he explained.
Babangida’s revelations shed new light on the political intrigues and power struggles that shaped Nigeria’s transition from military to civilian rule, offering fresh insight into one of the country’s most turbulent political periods.
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