IBB’s Book: A Slap on Nigeria’s Face

Former military president, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB), recently released his memoir, A Journey in Service, a self-congratulatory account of his time in power. However, rather than offering a genuine reflection on his tenure, the book serves as an insult to Nigerians who lived through the consequences of his rule. Instead of closure, IBB’s book reopens old wounds, evades accountability, and shamelessly distorts history.

For a man who presided over some of Nigeria’s most controversial moments—the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election, economic mismanagement, human rights abuses, and political instability—this book does nothing but absolve him of blame. IBB positions himself as a victim of circumstances, an unwilling participant in the chaos that defined his administration. Yet, history remembers differently. Nigerians remember differently.

Rewriting History, Dodging Responsibility

In A Journey in Service, IBB conveniently blames others for the failures of his government, particularly the annulment of the June 12 election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s fairest election. Rather than accepting responsibility, he shifts blame onto the late General Sani Abacha and unnamed judges, pretending to be powerless against a system he commanded with an iron grip. This is not just revisionist history—it is an outright insult to the intelligence of Nigerians.

How can a military dictator, who ruled by decree and eliminated opposition at will, suddenly become a helpless spectator when the nation’s most pivotal democratic decision was overturned? It is an insult to the memories of those who fought, suffered, and died for democracy. It is an attempt to erase the collective trauma he inflicted on Nigeria.

A Nation Plundered, Yet No Remorse

Under IBB’s leadership, Nigeria suffered significant economic decline. His Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) crushed the middle class, devalued the naira, and deepened poverty. Corruption thrived unchecked, and public funds vanished into the hands of a select few. Yet, in his book, he offers no remorse, no sincere reflection—only justification.

For a country still grappling with the economic consequences of his policies, reading IBB’s self-exoneration is nothing short of infuriating. The former military leader who institutionalized corruption and left Nigeria worse than he found it now seeks to rebrand himself as a misunderstood hero. This is an affront to the millions of Nigerians who continue to endure the consequences of his misrule.

The Audacity to Seek Sympathy

Perhaps the most egregious aspect of this book is IBB’s attempt to paint himself as a misunderstood leader rather than the architect of Nigeria’s prolonged suffering. He speaks of the tough decisions he had to make but fails to acknowledge the irreparable damage they caused. He speaks of friendships but conveniently ignores the betrayal of those closest to him, such as his role in the execution of Mamman Vatsa, his childhood friend and best man at his wedding.

IBB wants Nigerians to see him as a statesman, but history will remember him as the general who robbed a nation of its democratic future. His book does not serve as an apology or an honest reckoning—it is a calculated PR move to whitewash his legacy.

Nigerians Deserve the Truth, Not Propaganda

If IBB truly wanted to contribute to Nigeria’s historical record, he would have written an honest account of his failures, his regrets, and his role in shaping the country’s current challenges. Instead, A Journey in Service is nothing more than a self-serving narrative designed to manipulate public perception.

Nigeria deserves better. Nigerians deserve leaders who own up to their mistakes, not ones who rewrite history to suit their personal interests. If this book was meant to bring closure, it has only reopened old wounds and reminded the nation why Babangida remains one of its most controversial figures.

Rather than offering redemption, IBB’s book is a slap in the face to a country still reeling from the consequences of his rule.