#YNaijaEssays: June 12 and the legacy of Nigerian Leadership III

Last week, Nigeria as a nation celebrated the post-humous honour granted toChief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiolaand the recognition that was given to the 1993 elections. However, much of this joy seemed restricted to certain age demographics. Specifically, only the people who had lived during his own run for the presidency seemed to suggest there was a widespread lack of context and historical knowledge especially when our former military leaders are discussed. Remarks made byPresident Muhammadu Buharia few months ago praising now dead dictatorGeneral Sani Abachaand the lack of outrage that followed seemed to suggest that, we knew as little about how legacy as a nation than anyone could have predicted.
This inspired our Weekly Essay at YNaija this week. We have asked all our writers to research on and write about our past military leaders, the often less discussed aspects of their time in leadership and the legacy of their decision making. We hope it enlightens you as much as it did us. Here is the third article in this three-part essay.
GENERAL IBRAHIM BADAMOSI BABANGIDA
BeforeOlusegun Obasanjoreturned power to civil rule in 1979, Nigerians had experienced military rule for thirteen years after the first coup in 1966. The 1966 coup, led byMajor Kaduna Nzeogwuhad fellow majors,Emmanuel Ifeajuna, Timothy Onwuatuegwu, Chris Anuforo, Don Okafor, Humphrey Chukwuka, andAdewale Ademoyegaas co-conspirators. This was the beginning of military rule and the introduction of coups to the Nigerian political system.
In 1979,General Obasanjo, a beneficiary of a coup (the 1976 coup) himself handed over power toShehu Shagarion October 1, who became Nigeria’s first and only president of the Second Republic.
Shagari’stime as president was cut short on the eve of 1984 whenMajor General Muhammadu Buhariremoved him from office in a coup, citing dismal economic conditions and the corrupt nature of politicians.Buhari’s military rule was short-lived as he was ousted on August 27, 1985, by his then Chief of Army Staff,Major General Ibrahim Babangida. In a speechread byBrigadier General Joshua Nimyel Dogonyaroto justify the coup oustingBuhari, the military said the“present state of uncertainty and stagnation cannot be permitted to degenerate into suppression and retrogression.”
This was the beginning ofBabangida’seight-year rule as Nigeria’s ruler. ButBabangida’sparticipation in military coups date as far back as 1966. Then a lieutenant with the1st Reconnaissance Squadron in Kaduna, Babangida was one of many officers of northern extraction who participated in what is known as the Nigerian Counter-Coup of 1966 which resulted in the death of Nigeria’s first military Head of State,General Aguiyi Ironsi.He also played a huge role in the 1983 coup that toppled Nigeria’s Second Republic. According toKarl Maier’s‘Midnight in Nigeria’,Babangidanoted thatMoshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiolaparticipated in the coup with the use of his media and financial muscle.
On ascension of office in 1985,Babangidabecame the first military ruler to declare himself president and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. His military predecessors were known as Head of State. He established the Armed Forces Ruling Council and held the positions of President, Chairman of the Armed Forces Ruling Council, Chairman of the Federal Executive Council and Commander in Chief – Nigerian Armed Forces.
On October 18, 1986, a letter bomb was sent toDele Giwa, editor ofNewswatchmagazine, which criticised the government. Reports have accused theBabaginda-led government of killing the journalist. According toRay Ekpu, a journalist and co-founder ofNewswatch,Giwawas invited by the State Security Service (SSS), now the Department of State Service (DSS) days before his assassination.Ekpusaid he accompaniedGiwato the meeting at the SSS headquarters were he was accused byLt. Col Togunof plotting to published a cover story titled,“Power Games: Ukiwe loses out”, in its edition of October 20, which was on sale on October 13, 1986.Ebitu Ukiwehad just been recently removed as the Chief of General Staff toGeneral Babangida.
A day before his assassination,Giwa’swife,Funmireceived a call at their Ikeja home from a staff of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), requesting for directions to their house.Colonel Halilu Akiluof the DMI later spoke withGiwa’swife. When asked why he needed the directions, according toEkpu,Akilusaid he wanted to seeGiwabefore he left Lagos for Kano later. He also offered that the President’s ADC had something forGiwa, probably an invitation. This was nothing new, according toEkpu, asGiwahad received advance copies of some of the President’s speeches in the past throughAkilu. The next day a letter bomb was sent toGiwa’sresidence, resulting in his death.Giwa’sdeath remains a mystery and a stain on Babangida’sadministration. Officials ofBabangida’sregime have denied any knowledge of the assassination.
In 1999,President Olusegun Obasanjoset up the Human Rights Violation Investigation Commission to investigate human rights abuses during decades of military rule in Nigeria. The Commission was headed byJustice Chukwudifu Oputa. One of the cases brought before it wasGiwa’sdeath. The panel invitedBabangidato appear before it, but he rejected the summons and failed to honour the invitations. He challenged both the legality of the commission and its power to summon him. In 2001, Nigeria’s Court of Appeal ruled that the panel did not have the power to summon former rulers of the country.
When delivering in its report on the case, theOputa Panelconcluded that: “OnGeneral Ibrahim Babangida, we are of the view that there is evidence to suggest that he and the two security chiefs,Brigadier General Halilu AkiluandCol. A. K. Togunare accountable for the untimely death ofDele Giwaby letter bomb. We recommend that this case be re-opened for further investigation in the public interest.”
Babangida’stime as Head of State will be incomplete without delving into his annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, termed the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history. Shortly after assuming office, in 1986,Babangidadeclared that power will be returned to a civilian government in 1990. He later extended this date by two years to allow for adequate preparation. For this to happen, he declared that no politicians from the civilian regimes or military officials holding positions could run for elections. He banned political parties during the transition period and gave his approval to only two parties, the National Republican Convention (NRC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) – both creations ofBabangida’sgovernment. As the transition grew closer,Babangidadissolved the Armed Forces Ruling Council – onlySani Abacha, Joshua Dogonyaro, Augustus Aikhomu, Murtala NyakoandBabatunde Elegbedewere still members whenBabangidastepped down in 1993.
Babangidaannulled the election citing irregularities. His decision sparked outcry and widespread protests across the country. He will be remembered as the man who denied Nigeria of a president –Abiola– who was voted by Nigerians from all divide, regardless of religion, ethnicity and class.