Babangida at 85: A conversation with history

Kingsley Moghalu addresses surprise from a friend regarding his endorsement of former military leader General Ibrahim Babangida's autobiography, particularly on its cover. The friend questioned the endorsement, citing Babangida's "military dictator" past and the controversial annulment of the 1993 presidential election.

“

Babangida led Nigeria for several years at a time when military rule was the fashion across Africa and democracy the exception. He must be judged, as must all the uniformed leaders of that era, in that historical context.

Moghalu counters that Babangida, like other uniformed leaders of his era, must be judged within the historical context of widespread military rule across Africa. He points to the memoir where Babangida expresses "deep regret" for truncating the 1993 democratic transition and accepts full responsibility, acknowledging he "was wrong and should have acted differently."

“

if you have read the book you would have seen that IBB expressed deep regret for truncating the democratic transition in 1993 and accepted full responsibility. Looking backwards, he wrote, he was wrong and should have acted differently.

The author emphasizes the memoir's significance for Nigeria's "historical accounting," noting that three former military rulers have published memoirs within 18 months. Moghalu views these recollections as crucial for understanding the past, stating that memoirs offer "recollections plus perspective" and allow leaders to "complete the historical accounting for his part of our national story with finality and clarity."

“

Babangida’s memoir is important for our country’s historical accounting, and I was honored to respond positively to the former military leader’s invitation to comment on it.

Furthermore, Moghalu highlights Babangida's courage in correcting the "erroneous impression" that the January 1966 coup was an "Igbo coup," thereby preventing collective ethnic guilt. As Babangida turns 85, Moghalu suggests that confronting the 1993 election annulment and the 1966 coup in his memoir should bring him peace. The author also reflects on the longevity of Nigeria's former military rulers, seeing it as a "blessing" that affords them opportunities for reflection and self-assessment, with memoirs being a key part of that process.

“

Memoirs, like leadership, are not necessarily popularity contests. They are recollections plus perspective.