By Omoyele Sowore / Posted February 20, 2025
Babangida is set to launch his autobiography, titled ‘A Journey In Service,’ today, February 20, 2025, at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. This event coincides with a fundraising initiative for the IBB Presidential Library.
Subscribe To The Best Team In Conservative, Business, Technology, Lifestyle And Digital News Realtime! support@ddnewsonline.com
Human rights activist and convener of #RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore, has described former Nigerian military leader, Ibrahim Babangida, as a murderous dictator who has lived his life in falsehood.
Babangida is set to launch his autobiography, titled ‘A Journey In Service,’ today, February 20, 2025, at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. This event coincides with a fundraising initiative for the IBB Presidential Library.
The event will be chaired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, with President Bola Tinubu serving as the special guest of honor.
Former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo is scheduled to deliver the keynote address, and Nigeria’s former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will review the autobiography. Other notable attendees include ex-presidents Muhammadu Buhari, Yakubu Gowon, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and Goodluck Jonathan.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), accused Babangida of planning to launch a book of falsehood on Thursday after annulling the June 12, 1993 election, killing popular journalist Dele Giwa via parcel bomb in 1986, murdering hundreds of soldiers.
He said that Babangida in the book is set to falsely blame another military dictator late General Sani Abacha, for the annulment of June 12 election in the book.
According to Sowore, by blaming Abacha for the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election, Babangida will be admitting that the election was free and fair.
In a post on his X page on Thursday, Sowore said, “Today, former Nigerian dictator Ibrahim Babangida will launch his book, which is expected to falsely blame late General Sanni Abacha, another wicked dictator, for the annulment of June 12 elections.
“On doing so, he will be admitting they were free and fair.
“Babangida’s narrative will be totally false as his life and times have always been! Don’t forget Babangida killed journalist Dele Giwa via parcel bomb in 1986.
Subscribe To The Best Team In Conservative, Business, Technology, Lifestyle And Digital News Realtime! support@ddnewsonline.com
“He murdered several military officers and bosom friends in a phantom coup d’etat, he crashed a plane filled with military officers.
“He stole billions from the Nigerian national treasury, destroyed the Nigerian economy through SAP and introduced a fake transition program that he personally aborted in 1993.
“As usual he will blame someone else for all these.”
Babangida served as Nigeria’s military ruler from 1985 to 1993, a tenure characterised by notable political and economic shifts along with controversies.
His regime is particularly infamous for key events, most notably the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was won by Chief M.K.O. Abiola. Babangida annulled the presidential election widely regarded as the fairest in Nigeria’s history, believed to have been won by Abiola. This decision led to widespread unrest and political instability, significantly impacting Nigeria’s democratic progress.
Babangida introduced the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) under pressure from international financial institutions to reform Nigeria’s struggling economy. While SAP aimed to liberalise the economy, it also led to inflation, unemployment, and public discontent.
The former dictator’s regime faced criticism for human rights abuses. One of the most notable incidents was the 1986 parcel bomb assassination of investigative journalist Dele Giwa, who had been reporting on corruption and human rights violations. Babangida’s regime has been accused of involvement, though no one was officially held accountable.
His administration witnessed multiple alleged coup attempts, resulting in executions and imprisonments of military officers. Some critics claim these were politically motivated to eliminate opposition.
Babangida initiated a transition to civilian governance, forming two political parties controlled by the military. However, the process was widely criticized as manipulative and insincere, culminating in the annulment of the June 12 election.
Babangida remains a polarising figure in Nigeria’s history. Supporters credit him with modernising the military and infrastructure, while critics accuse him of corruption, human rights abuses, and undermining democracy.
Sowore’s comments reflect ongoing debates about Babangida’s legacy, especially regarding the June 12 election annulment and the unsolved murder of Dele Giwa. The upcoming book mentioned by Sowore appears to be Babangida’s attempt to rewrite history by reshaping public narratives about his rule.
Subscribe To The Best Team In Conservative, Business, Technology, Lifestyle And Digital News Realtime! support@ddnewsonline.com
Note: This article was first published by Sahara Reporters.
Opinions expressed by Columnists/Contributors is theirs and do NOT necessarily reflect the views of DDNewsonline.com
Sowore is the Publisher of Saharareporters