5 things to know about the ‘Evil Genius’ IBB as he clocks 79
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, also known as IBB is a name deeply etched in Nigeria’s history. For some, he is the most dominant theme in Nigeria’s enmeshment in Military dictatorship which continues to take a fair share of the blame for the country’s inability to live up to it’s natural and human endowments. For others, he is an invisible hand who played a huge contributory role in Nigeria’s transition to civilian rule. As a result, it may not feel incongruous to label him a common moniker which has become synonymous with his name- The Evil Genius. As the Military Dictator cum Elderstatesman turns 79, Daily Times takes a cursory look at 5 Things to know about “The Evil Genius”.
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(1) Involvement in all Nigerian coups: IBB’s military career was marked by involvement in all the military coups in Nigeria (a feat later surpassed by General Sani Abacha). From the 1966 coup d’etat which toppled Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi to his personally orchestrated coup in 1985 which ousted Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), Babangida is said to have been a key player in all successive military coups. During the battlements of the Nigerian Civil War where he fought against the Biafran rebels, IBB took a bullet to the chest. Following his hospitalization, he was given the option of removing the bullet shrapnel; but he refused and carries it to date.
(2) Military Presidency: On August 27th, 1985, IBB and his four co-conspirators orchestrated a palace coup that overthrew Gen. Muhammadu Buhari from power. In a speech, General Babangida justified the coup describing General Muhammadu Buhari’s military regime as “too rigid”. He placed General Muhammadu Buhari under house arrest in Benin until 1988. Babangida established the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) in a bid to consolidate his power. He rejected the title of ‘Military Head of State’ and promulgated his official title as the first military President of Nigeria.
(3) Corruption bazaar:
In 1997, British historian, Kirk-Green and famous Nigerian political scientist, Oyeleye Oyediran published Nigerian Politics and Civil Society Under Babangida. In the book, Ibrahim Babangida’s administration was considered the most corrupt, and responsible for creating a culture of corruption in Nigeria.
(4) Human rights violation: Violation of human rights to put it very mildly, was second nature to the entire life of military dictatorship in Nigeria. Having criticized his predecessor (Muhammadu Buhari) for being too rigid and showing some good faith by releasing journalists and political prisoners, IBB seemed as though he was going to tow a different path. In 1986, IBB became the villain in his own script by assassinating Dele Giwa, a newspaper editor who had been very critical of his government. Dele Giwa was killed in his Lagos home by a parcel which turned out to be a letter bomb. In 1999, President Olusegun Obasanjo set up the Human Rights Violation Investigation Commission, who summoned IBB to appear before it and answer questions regarding human rights violations during his military presidency. IBB declined the summon, alleging that the commission had no power to summon him.
(5) Structural Adjustment Programme: Between 1983-1985 under the then military government of Gen Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s economy is said to have taken a serious hit. Following the successful coup of 1985 IBB initiated what he called the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), which was geared at revamping Nigeria’s economy. Through the help of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), IBB revamped the country from under the doldrums. The Structural Adjustment Programme to a large extent remains IBB’s greatest legacy as Nigeria’s leader.
