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Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has described former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd.), as one of Nigeria’s most enigmatic leaders, stating that his autobiography, Journeys in Service, offers a rare insight into the life and times of the former leader.
Speaking at the book launch on Thursday, February 20, 2025, Osinbajo said Babangida’s memoir is significant not only as a personal account but also as a chronicle of Nigeria’s complex and often unpredictable history.
“This book is not just about the remarkable journey of former President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida from childhood to the pinnacle of power; it is also the story of Nigeria—fascinating, sometimes stranger than fiction, but always compelling,” Osinbajo said.
A gathering of history
The event brought together some of Nigeria’s most influential political and military figures, many of whom played pivotal roles in the country’s history alongside Babangida.
Among them was General Yakubu Gowon, who became Head of State at just 32, only to be overthrown in a coup involving key figures such as Brigadier Olusegun Obasanjo, Brigadier Theophilus Danjuma, and Babangida himself.
Also present were former President Obasanjo, General Danjuma, and representatives of former President Muhammadu Buhari—men who, at different times, were both allies and adversaries of Babangida.
Osinbajo highlighted the irony of history, noting that despite past rivalries, these figures had come together to celebrate one of their own.
“We see here today a demonstration of Nigeria’s unique ability to move beyond the past and come together,” he remarked.
Revealing Babangida: The man behind the myth
Osinbajo emphasized that Journeys in Service sheds new light on Babangida’s persona, beyond the widely known labels of “Maradona” and “Evil Genius.”
The book traces his early life in Minna, his schooling at the Provincial Secondary School, Bida (later Government College Bida), and his military career, including his decision to change his last name from Badamasi to Babangida to avoid confusion with the Yoruba name “Gbadamosi.”
It also recounts his experiences in the Nigerian Civil War, where he survived a near-fatal shrapnel injury, as well as his interactions with key historical figures like General Gowon, whom he played a role in dismissing from the military—only to later restore his rank and benefits as president in 1986.
Babangida also gives a detailed account of his dramatic confrontation with Major Gideon Orkar’s coup plotters, the failed Dimka coup, and his relationship with his late wife, Maryam Babangida, who redefined the role of Nigeria’s First Lady with her Better Life for Rural Women Programme.
The controversial moments: Dele Giwa, SAP riots, June 12
Osinbajo acknowledged that the most anticipated sections of the book revolve around the controversies of Babangida’s rule.
These include the 1986 letter-bomb assassination of journalist Dele Giwa, the execution of his childhood friend General Mamman Vatsa over an alleged coup plot, the deadly Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) riots, and the controversial 1992 Nigerian Air Force C-130 crash.
Most notably, Babangida revisits the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
In a striking admission, he acknowledges for the first time that Chief MKO Abiola won the election.
“I am on record to have stated after the elections that Abiola may not have won. However, upon deeper reflection and examination of the detailed election results, there is no doubt that MKO Abiola won,” Babangida writes.
He further admits that the annulment was one of the most painful decisions of his life, adding, “If I had to do it all over, I’d do it differently.”
A book that will not end the debate
Concluding his remarks, Osinbajo described Journeys in Service as an engaging and insightful account of Babangida’s life.
“By any standard, this is an extraordinary book. Babangida tells his story with remarkable wit, insight, and a vivid sense of place. His storytelling ability is undeniable,” he said.
However, he noted that the book would not silence debates or end controversies surrounding Babangida’s rule.
“The questions will persist, the criticisms will continue, but that has always been the nature of the Babangida phenomenon. He remains, as ever, a force of history.”
Osinbajo urged Nigerians to read the book, saying it offers a chance to engage with history from Babangida’s own perspective.
“Babangida in his own words—this is a book we must all read,” he concluded.