Former military president, retired General Ibrahim Babangida, yesterday said his former Chief of Army Staff, then Lt-Gen. Sani Abacha, saved him when some young officers staged a bloody coup that nearly toppled his government.
Babangida who was answering questions from newsmen in Minna at a news conference to mark his 74th birthday, said at the heat of the coup which was announced by Major Gideon Gwaza Orkar on April 22, 1990, he got in touch with Sani Abacha who came to him for talks on the developments after which they rallied round loyal troops to rout the dissidents.
I can remember fairly well that I had some loyal officers who were supposed to be protectors and bodyguards attached to me. Initially, they said I should move and I told them no, I was not leaving Dodan Barracks. But they remained hard up and very tensed, but very resilient. Later, I carried my family outside Dodan Barracks and joined my guards in battle. So we went out of Dodan Barracks to a safe house where we got in contact with loyal troops. May God bless General Sani Abacha. Sani Abacha was then the Chief of Army Staff. We got in touch with him and told him what was happening and he came down. We talked on what we should do. We rallied round loyal troops and I left my safe house and joined Abacha in his house and that was what happened.”
Babangida praised on-going efforts by President Muhammadu Buhari on the many challenges facing the country, saying the president was on course.
The former military president also commended the current leadership for identifying the nation’s challenges and tackling them head-on.
“I must commend the current leadership for identifying even before during and after the elections, some of the problems that are facing this country. Number one, it has to do with peace and security. The president has to identify the security of lives and property, the security of the state and this environment called Nigeria. That has been identified. And the second one of course is the way we live, the way we work and behave-corruption. The third has to do with economic development. All these have been identified and I think we should support the presidency towards enhancing security and especially, you the media, in wiping out corruption”, he said.
Babangida expressed optimism that the Buhari-led administration has the capacity to put the country on the path of development and growth.
“So far I am confident that they are doing well, they have identified the problems and they look resolute in confronting these problems head-on. I’m confident they will succeed,” he noted. Babangida specifically praised the renewed war against terrorism despite its unconventional nature.
“Yes the insurgents have to be fought. The renewed effort and fight the federal government is doing is very commendable. I think there is a general misunderstanding in the whole concept of insurgency. We are not fighting a regularly army where you can confront by use of force and weapons to overwhelm the enemy. No, you have got a small trained army the tactics of which was to inflict maximum casualty on “the so called enemy”. Inflict maximum casualty on him when and where he least expects it. They are not fighting a conventional war. That makes it exceptionally difficult. They blow our bridges, they blow up our barracks. So this is an unconventional war. We know that and the soldiers are trained for it as they deem necessary. I think the public should be educated about this unconventional warfare,” he said as he called for more of the training of military.
“We did say in those days that no matter the kind of sophisticated weapons you have, it is not the weapon but the man behind the weapon. I do appreciate what they are trying to do but the military is trying its best. They acquired a lot of experience during and after the Second World War. They have excelled in other operations and other engagements within and outside the country. The level of training of the man behind the weapon matters,” he added.
On the federal government’s plan to dialogue with Boko Harma, the former military president said: “I think the president got it right. He said yes he would talk to people who are credible, who have been identified as genuine and authentic leaders of the terrorists. That the government would be ready to talk to them but so far apart from one or two variables we have not heard any other real leader. So I do not think the government will be ready to talk to people who are not worth talking to as far as these issues are concerned. So the government is right to be careful to identify and talk if there is anything to talk about.”
IBB also said the strategy adopted by the federal government in tackling corruption and recovering stolen funds from officials of the immediate past government was a step in the right direction.
“When you talk of strategy, my boss former President Olusegun Obasanjo made a lot of recoveries during his time and his strategies are similar to those of the current government. So we should support what the president is trying to do to achieve the same objective.
“If it is pursued vigorously, the government will be able to stamp out corruption and to bring to book those who are found culpable in stealing our wealth.
