Babangida got his first taste of live battle when Nigeria tore itself apart at the seams and civil war broke out in 1967.  During the Nigerian civil war he commanded the 44^th infantry battalion (nicknamed “The Rangers”) and was promoted to Captain in August 1968.  One of his neighbouring battalion commanders was his childhood buddy Mamman Vatsa who commanded the 21^st  infantry battalion. 

Both Babangida and Vatsa served under Colonel Mohammed Shuwa’s 1^st division.  Babangida was wounded during the civil war in April 1969 and a bullet remains lodged in his body till this day.  He got married in September 1969 to a lady named Maryam King.  Although her father was from Asaba, Maryam was the cousin of Babangida’s school classmate and army colleague Garba Duba, and was the daughter of Duba’s aunt.  Although originally from Asaba she had spent most of her life in Kaduna having attended the Queen Amina College and Federal Training Centre.  The irony was that Maryam’s father was killed during the war shortly before his daughter married Babangida.  The couple subsequently had four children named Mohammed, Aminu, Aisha and Halima.  Babangida was the best man when his old school classmate and childhood friend Mamman Vatsa got married to a lady from Calabar named Nwaeza Onwuka (who later changed her name to “Safiya”).

THE DIMKA AFFAIR

After his NDA posting Babangida was sent for further training in the U.S. where he attended the Advanced Armoured Officers’ Course at Fort Knox from August 1972 to June 1973.  When he returned to Nigeria he was appointed commander of the 4^th reconnaissance regiment and promoted to Lt-Colonel in 1974.  1975 was a pivotal year for Babangida.  On July 29 of that year he and other Colonels including Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, Joseph Garba, Abdullahi Mohammed and Anthony Ochefu led a bloodless military coup which overthrew the regime of General Gowon.  Gowon was replaced by Brigadier Murtala Muhammed who was a role model to Babangida and his colleagues.   Babangida’s buddies were conspicuously present around the center of power at Dodan barracks.  The lessons and experience these Colonels gained as young officers during the mutiny of July 1966 were invaluably put to use in deposing Gowon.  In the post-coup distribution of the spoils, Babangida was rewarded for the role he played in the coup, by being appointed commander of the strategically important armoured corps (composed of the former reconnaissance squadrons of the Nigerian army).  He was also appointed to the new military government as a member of the Supreme Military Council (SMC).  His cohort Lt-Colonel Paul Tarfa was appointed Provost-Marshal and was tasked with “Operation Ease the Traffic” which was aimed at reducing traffic congestion in Lagos.

Babangida's star was rising. In January 1976, he was promoted to full Colonel. Babangida's rising profile was not universally acclaimed in all factions within the army.  Disgruntled middle belt soldiers interpreted the coup which deposed Gowon as a deliberate attempt to marginalise them.  The middle belt soldiers planned a counter-coup which aimed to restore the pre-July 29, 1975 status quo.  The coup plotters drew up a list of senior government figures who were to be assassinated.   Babangida’s name was among the names on their death list.  General Muhammed was assassinated on February 13, 1976 during the abortive coup led by middle belt soldiers.  Babangida’s old friend Mamman Vatsa was one of the first loyalist officers to disassociate himself from the coup.  The drama was not over.  The officer who announced the coup over the airwaves (Lt-Colonel B.S. Dimka) was a close friend of Babangida going back several years.  Babangida was sent to neutralise Dimka by Lt-General Danjuma.  An unarmed Babangida bravely confronted a gun toting Dimka inside the radio station.  In circumstances that have never been fully explained Dimka also managed to escape from the radio station despite the fact that it was surrounded by loyal troops.  Danjuma was reported to have been irate with Babangida and scolded him for letting Dimka escape when his orders were to flush him out dead or alive.  The coup was eventually put down by loyal troops. (the circumstances leading up to and during this coup will be extensively discussed in a forthcoming book by the author)

Dimka and the other coup accomplices were arrested, tried and convicted of treason by a special military tribunal.  Babangida's old friend Mamman Vatsa was on the board of inquiry that investigated the coup, as was Lt-Colonel Joshua Nimyel Dogonyaro who would have an immensely profitable association with Babangida for several decades into the future.  Some of the suspects were sentenced to death.  The tribunal's verdicts could not be appealed but were subject to confirmation by the SMC, which Babangida was a member of.  Given that several SMC members such as Babangida, Obasanjo and Danjuma were marked for death by the plotters, there was little prospect that the SMC would take any action other than confirm the death sentences.  40 officers were executed and several others imprisoned for alleged complicity in the coup.  Babangida survived and emerged with his stature enhanced from the Dimka saga.  However his experience of being marked for death by his friends implanted a security conscious paranoia in his psyche which would last for several decades.  His position was consolidated as he was increasingly surrounded by a cadre of officers including his old school classmates from Bida and the NMTC.  He and these officers such as Buhari, Vatsa, Gado Nasko, and the so far inconspicuous Abacha, would collude to form an indefatigable military cabal for years to come.

FROM COURSE TO COURSE

 From January – July 1977 he attended a senior officers’ course at the Command and Staff College in Jaji.  Babangida remained in the SMC throughout July 29, 1975 and October 1, 1979 when Lt-General Obasanjo returned the country to civilian democratic rule October 1, 1979.  An elaborate parade and handover ceremony was conducted as Obasanjo handed over to the new President Alhaji Shehu Shagari.  The commander of the military parade during the handover ceremony was Babangida's childhood friend, the now Lt-Colonel Abdulsalam Abubakar. 

He was also promoted to Brigadier in 1979.  Following this promotion he attended the Policy and Strategic Studies Course at the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies in Jos, followed by the Senior International Defence Management Course at the Naval Post Graduate School in the U.S. between January and June 1980.  On January 5, 1981 he was appointed the Director of Army Staff Duties and Plans at army headquarters in Lagos.  This was the last military posting he held before the return of military rule.  He was promoted to Major-General on March 1, 1983.

MKO ABIOLA, OBASANJO AND “COUP BAITING”

The corrupt incompetence of the civilian democratic government of Shehu Shagari gave some politically ambitious military officers an excuse to abandon the barracks for another political rescue operation.  A cabal of the officers that handed over to President Shagari (including Babangida) resolved to depose Shagari and replace him with another military regime.  Overthrowing the government involved extremely subtle operations within the military and in civil society.  Babangida and his colleagues required the collaboration of their civilian friends.  President Shagari reported that several frustrated politicians engaged in what he termed “coup baiting”.  Shagari’s ruling party, the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) had an elaborate zoning system for the distribution of government portfolios - including the presidency.  Since the presidency had been zoned to President Shagari (from the north), the multi-billionaire businessman, Moshood Abiola hoped he would benefit from the NPN’s zoning system.  Abiola assumed that when President Shagari’s term of office expired, the NPN would “zone” the presidency to the south, and he would be allowed to run for President.   He was wrong.  When Abiola articulated his presidential ambition, he was rebuffed by the powerful Minister of Transport Umaru Dikko who told him that “the presidency is not for sale to the highest bidder”.  Abiola “retired” from politics soon after – totally exasperated with the NPN.  Abiola would have his revenge.  He had been a close friend of Babangida since 1974 when Abiola was selling radio systems to the military.  Back then Babangida was sent to evaluate the quality of devices being sold by Abiola.  According to Babangida “From that time the relationship developed and he was always around”. 

Abiola’s publishing empire was used to launch frequent vitriolic attacks on the government with the intention of discrediting it sufficiently to psychologically prepare the public for its replacement by a military regime.  In his memoirs (Beckoned to Serve), President Shagari later obliquely referred to the financing and support given to military conspirators by an unnamed “well known business tycoon”.  Although he declined to name this tycoon, contextually it was an obvious reference to Abiola.  Babangida went further in unequivocally confirming Abiola’s role in financing the plot against Shagari and using his influence to destabilise Shagari’s government.  He later revealed that Abiola:

“was also very good in trying to mould the thinking of the media.  We relied on him a lot for that.  So there was both the media support and the financial support.” (Karl Maier – Midnight in Nigeria)

An overlooked aspect of the plot against President Shagari is the role played by former Head of State General Olusegun Obasanjo.  Many have speculated that the coup which overthrew Shagari was carried out with the connivance, or support of retired military officers.  In his memoirs President Shagari also accused Obasanjo of engaging in “coup baiting”.  Shagari alleged that Obasanjo and other retired officers severely criticised his regime with the aim of inciting the military to overthrow Shagari.  Senior serving military officers were reported to have frequently visited Obasanjo at his Ota farm.  Shagari’s observations are given credence by a recent interview with Babangida.  In that interview Babangida claimed that the original aim of the coup plot was to bring Obasanjo back to power.  However on being informed of the plan, Obasanjo refused as he felt it would destroy his credibility as a statesman.  Babangida himself was then approached to become the new Head of State but he too declined.  The text from this part of the interview is reproduced below:

Question:  “It was also said that those of you who ousted Shagari actually wanted to bring back General Obasanjo as Head of State in 1984. Is this true?”

Babangida: “It is true. But to be very fair to General Obasanjo, he rejected the offer. He said no. He said it would destroy his integrity, that he handed over to Shagari and that it is not right for him to get involved. But he (Obasanjo) said he was not stopping us from going ahead with the plot”.

(Pointblanknews Friday, 25 January 2008)

Next part: “You see we are very smart people.  We don’t intervene when we know the climate is not good for it or the public will not welcome it.  We wait until there is a frustration in the society.  In all the coups, you find there has always been one frustration or the other.  Any time there is frustration we step in. And then there is demonstration welcoming the redeemers.”

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Robot  Villager

# 1 ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 11.05.2008 02:09

aguabata  Villager

# 2 a brilliant stringing of some previously known and unknown information. It is abundantly clear that Nigeria is owned by a group of people that are not more than 1000, the majority comes from the north and a few light sprinkle of people from other zones of the country. Posted by aguabata| 11.05.2008 05:02

mushu  Villager

# 3 .... and that little group of people were the people that were priviledged to have further education when the rest of their peers became clerks, teachers and translators. They were pampered by the Government, the Community and everybody as the people who would make Nigeria develop rapidly. Since those early days, they always felt they were the Kings of Nigeria. Cabals were formed, brotherhoods were forged. They know each other's secrets, they know when and how to steal our money , they hold the key to this nation's wealth and they intend to pass it to their children. All we can do is watch... if we cannot fight. Posted by mushu| 11.05.2008 05:50

ttonjo  Villager

# 4 Nigeria we hail thee......I thank the author for an eye opening, well research and brilliant article. But I want people to know that artificial things doesn't last forever. The so-called cabals imposed themselves forcefully against the will of majority in Nigeria, and having a field day, without realizing that they are sitting on top of an unexploded timed bomb, i.e. (the dissatisfied and oppressed people of Nigeria). It is a matter of time when people will start asking questions and start to demand for their rights. I can assured you that no amount of armunitions will be enough to suppress the will of the people. History shall prove me right when the time comes, and it is just round the corner when people will collectively say in one voice that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. It has happen before in Russia and France, where certain aristocratic families, the Zars, of Russia was wiped out when the people had enough of them, and the French Revolution of 1879, that resulted into the removal of the then cabals of the royal family in France, to free the French society of the lording of the so-called royal family and free themselves of being second class citizens to others in France. I cannot see any reason why history cannot repeat itself in Nigeria. According to the famous saying in journalism that: 'Pen is Mightier than Gun', the silence revolution has started already. It is a matter of education through pens and papers, and the people will start talking and start asking questions, and no amount of armunitions that, they, the so-called 'evil and heartless cabals in Nigeria', solely relied upon could stop it. Only time will tell. :frown::frown::frown: Posted by ttonjo| 11.05.2008 08:16

Bode Eluyera  Villager

# 5 =ttonjo;4295016298>Nigeria we hail thee......I thank the author for an eye opening, well research and brilliant article. But I want people to know that artificial things doesn't last forever. The so-called cabals imposed themselves forcefully against the will of majority in Nigeria, and having a field day, without realizing that they are sitting on top of an unexploded timed bomb, i.e. (the dissatisfied and oppressed people of Nigeria). It is a matter of time when people will start asking questions and start to demand for their rights. I can assured you that no amount of armunitions will be enough to suppress the will of the people. History shall prove me right when the time comes, and it is just round the corner when people will collectively say in one voice that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. It has happen before in Russia and France, where certain aristocratic families, the Zars, of Russia was wiped out when the people had enough of them, and the French Revolution of 1879, that resulted into the removal of the then cabals of the royal family in France, to free the French society of the lording of the so-called royal family and free themselves of being second class citizens to others in France. I cannot see any reason why history cannot repeat itself in Nigeria. According to the famous saying in journalism that: 'Pen is Mightier than Gun', the silence revolution has started already. It is a matter of education through pens and papers, and the people will start talking and start asking questions, and no amount of armunitions that, they, the so-called 'evil and heartless cabals in Nigeria', solely relied upon could stop it. Only time will tell. :frown::frown::frown: Thank you for that BRILLIANT POST of yours. You said exactly what I wanted to say. I couldn't have said it better. THE BITTER TRUTH, TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT, IS THAT WE ARE A COLONY OF THE NORTH. I will explain in details why I have made this assertion in my forthcoming article, 'Niggeria: To be or not to be? We must admit that the north has not only dominated the Nigerian Army; by the way, that's the ONLY place where QUOTA SYSTEM is not in operation, but as well has A LOT OF EXPERIENCE in the POWER GAME. Unfortunately, this is our BIGGEST WICKNESS, and where we are MOST VULNERABLE, in the south. However, just like you said, when we are ready to break up Nigeria, I can assure you that people like Babangida, with all his MARADONA, Danjuma and the whole of the northern army with all their experience in planning coups will not be able to stop us! There is no monopoly to knowledge. People think that the only way to break up Nigeria is through another civil war or coup. That's why the Ndigbos are reluctant to start another war again because they are not sure of the position of the Yorubas. What is most important for us in the south is to choose the right strategy that will render useless all the ammunitions stored in the north. My brother, I tell you, it's possible. It's just that we have not really thought about all the options available to us to realise this objective without going to war. But, it's going to take a HELL lot of work from us. And a lot of people have to come on board to realise this plan. We are not even going to make it a secret that we want to break away, that's the most interesting part of it all. But, I repeat again, what is MOST IMPORTANT is to choose the right strategy. This is the HARDEST PART, which needs a lot of BRAINSTORMING. If the ALMIGHTY FORMER SOVIET UNION COULD BREAK UP, WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT NIGERIA?. I asked this question in part 2 of my article, 'Nigeria: To be or not to be?, but I am yet to get an answer, talkless of a CONVINCING ANSWER. What we need to do now is to do a lot of anlysis as regards to how other countries realised their political objective, and decide what is applicable to our situation. This should be the focus of our attention and plan now. It's not enough to talk about freedom on the internet. There is the need for a plan. I have taken upon myself the very difficult task of presenting one in my future articles. It may serve as a 'stepping stone' that others copuld improve on. Our forefathers got independence from the British. It's now our turn to get independence from the north for the sake of coming generations. Finally, I want to use this opportunity to thank the author for this article. Writing of biography is not that popular in Nigeria. Or should I say undedeveloped. I am greatful to him for taking up this very difficult but important task. I sincerely hope that he will go ahead to publish the biography of this man, not for us to admire him but to con firm again that he is indeed an evil genius, who has used his knowledge to steal and destroy Niggeria. No matter how babangida tries to rewritye his autobiography, he will FOREVER be remembered as a CORRUPT, INCOMPETENT, VISIONLESS AND MORALLY BANKRUPT DICTATOR. Nothing can change that. No amount of interviews will change that. The very day he kicks the bucket, I can assure him that millions of Niggerians will go out on the streets to jubilate and thank God. I wish you all the best in your book. The world deserve to know this DEVIL. Posted by Bode Eluyera| 11.05.2008 16:12

FoxCatcher  Villager

# 6 "Abiola’s publishing empire was used to launch frequent vitriolic attacks on the government with the intention of discrediting it sufficiently to psychologically prepare the public for its replacement by a military regime. In his memoirs (Beckoned to Serve), President Shagari later obliquely referred to the financing and support given to military conspirators by an unnamed “well known business tycoon”. Although he declined to name this tycoon, contextually it was an obvious reference to Abiola. Babangida went further in unequivocally confirming Abiola’s role in financing the plot against Shagari and using his influence to destabilise Shagari’s government. He later revealed that Abiola: “was also very good in trying to mould the thinking of the media. We relied on him a lot for that. So there was both the media support and the financial support.” (Karl Maier – Midnight in Nigeria)" =ttonjo;4295016298> According to the famous saying in journalism that: 'Pen is Mightier than Gun', the silence revolution has started already. It is a matter of education through pens and papers, and the people will start talking and start asking questions, and no amount of armunitions that, they, the so-called 'evil and heartless cabals in Nigeria', solely relied upon could stop it. Only time will tell. :frown::frown::frown: The press is always pivotal to the growth and success of budding tyrants. They (press) are always courted assidiously by them to help prepare the public psyche to welcome them and create an enabling environment for legitimising their criminal actions. Recent history shows this symbiotic relationship between the the powerful sections of the 4th estate of the realm and our ruling cabals. Often the 'masses' find out the 'truth' only when this 'relationship' breaks down. Thank God for the development of a robust and fairly objective section of the Nigerian press. Still, one cannot but continue to wonder how much is being suppressed or not being told in the news we are inundated with daily. The power of the pen is therefore indisputable; however its moralty and impact is subject to the one who holds it. IBB was once the darling of the Nigerian press. Were the publishers/editors of the 1985 news media ignorant of his antecedents when they hailed him as the best thing to happen to Nigeria? So, I'm still curious about the purpose of this piece. Is it an objective or commissioned work? Time will tell.... Nevertheless, it is a well researched and reasoned article. Ciao Posted by FoxCatcher| 11.05.2008 16:37

ttonjo  Villager

# 7 =Bode Eluyera;4295016396>Thank you for that BRILLIANT POST of yours. You said exactly what I wanted to say. I couldn't have said it better. THE BITTER TRUTH, TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT, IS THAT WE ARE A COLONY OF THE NORTH. I will explain in details why I have made this assertion in my forthcoming article, 'Niggeria: To be or not to be? We must admit that the north has not only dominated the Nigerian Army; by the way, that's the ONLY place where QUOTA SYSTEM is not in operation, but as well has A LOT OF EXPERIENCE in the POWER GAME. Unfortunately, this is our BIGGEST WICKNESS, and where we are MOST VULNERABLE, in the south. However, just like you said, when we are ready to break up Nigeria, I can assure you that people like Babangida, with all his MARADONA, Danjuma and the whole of the northern army with all their experience in planning coups will not be able to stop us! There is no monopoly to knowledge. People think that the only way to break up Nigeria is through another civil war or coup. That's why the Ndigbos are reluctant to start another war again because they are not sure of the position of the Yorubas. What is most important for us in the south is to choose the right strategy that will render useless all the ammunitions stored in the north. My brother, I tell you, it's possible. It's just that we have not really thought about all the options available to us to realise this objective without going to war. But, it's going to take a HELL lot of work from us. And a lot of people have to come on board to realise this plan. We are not even going to make it a secret that we want to break away, that's the most interesting part of it all. But, I repeat again, what is MOST IMPORTANT is to choose the right strategy. This is the HARDEST PART, which needs a lot of BRAINSTORMING. If the ALMIGHTY FORMER SOVIET UNION COULD BREAK UP, WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT NIGERIA?. I asked this question in part 2 of my article, 'Nigeria: To be or not to be?, but I am yet to get an answer, talkless of a CONVINCING ANSWER. What we need to do now is to do a lot of anlysis as regards to how other countries realised their political objective, and decide what is applicable to our situation. This should be the focus of our attention and plan now. It's not enough to talk about freedom on the internet. There is the need for a plan. I have taken upon myself the very difficult task of presenting one in my future articles. It may serve as a 'stepping stone' that others copuld improve on. Our forefathers got independence from the British. It's now our turn to get independence from the north for the sake of coming generations. Finally, I want to use this opportunity to thank the author for this article. Writing of biography is not that popular in Nigeria. Or should I say undedeveloped. I am greatful to him for taking up this very difficult but important task. I sincerely hope that he will go ahead to publish the biography of this man, not for us to admire him but to con firm again that he is indeed an evil genius, who has used his knowledge to steal and destroy Niggeria. No matter how babangida tries to rewritye his autobiography, he will FOREVER be remembered as a CORRUPT, INCOMPETENT, VISIONLESS AND MORALLY BANKRUPT DICTATOR. Nothing can change that. No amount of interviews will change that. The very day he kicks the bucket, I can assure him that millions of Niggerians will go out on the streets to jubilate and thank God. I wish you all the best in your book. The world deserve to know this DEVIL. Thank you Bode, for your brilliant and well informed articles: Nigeria: To be or not to be? I read it with great interest and I can honestly assured you that millions of people read it worldwide as well. Although, I did not respond to it, but I want you to know that it has sowed a very 'brilliant seed' that is germinating brilliantly, and I do hope that it is doing same to other progressive thinking Nigerians as well. The time is coming when people will definitely say: 'enough is enough.' Don't you know that you have got the mightiest weapons of it all 'the mighty PEN', that you posses is generating great ideas in many fertile minds worldwide? I also want you to know that those evil cabals in Nigeria are feeling hot in their pants with all the destructive missiles you're sending into the air through your dangerous weapons 'the mighty Pen.' They cannot stop you, they cannot stop us and we shall be free from their evil and heartless draconian grips one day. Take it or leave it, there days are numbered. I can honestly assured you that they are drinking in the last chance cup. Posted by ttonjo| 11.05.2008 17:04

BiafranPrincess  Villager

# 8 To me ppl like IBB.... and co are really overrated cos give or take 10..15 ..20 years? they'll be dead or clearly on their way out. Not wishing anybody dead but that is reality! I am more interested in the generation NOW and how we can rebuild this raped nation. P.S The best way to 'kill' someone like IBB is to simply ignore him. IBB who? Next please... Posted by BiafranPrincess| 11.05.2008 20:04

Namio  Villager

# 9 =BiafranPrincess;4295016438>To me ppl like IBB.... and co are really overrated cos give or take 10..15 ..20 years? they'll be dead or clearly on their way out. Not wishing anybody dead but that is reality! I am more interested in the generation NOW and how we can rebuild this raped nation. P.S The best way to 'kill' someone like IBB is to simply ignore him. IBB who? Next please... My dear Princess, Don't be naive, if these people are not crushed now, forget about the future. They prepare and perpetuate themselves into the future generation. While you are right in looking forward, our past still hunt us because of people like IBB. Posted by Namio| 12.05.2008 11:27

Son of the Delta  Villager

# 10 @ Bode The internal colonisers are not just the North. 8years of Olusegun Obasanjo had ripple effects that were more than the effects of about 3decades of Northern rule. Posted by Son of the Delta| 12.05.2008 13:40

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