NewStats: 3,263,910 , 8,181,846 topics. Date: Sunday, 08 June 2025 at 05:53 PM v2i54

Former chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) says former Military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) never wanted the late MKO Abiola to be sworn-in as president after winning the June 12 1993 presidential election.

In his autobiography titled ' A Journey In Service', Babangida had blamed the late General Sani Abacha largely for the annulment of the results of the June 12, 1993 presidential election which he (Babangida) now its was won by the late Abiola.

Babangida, who stepped aside as Head of State and installed the late Chief Ernest Shenekan as head of an Interim National Government on August 27, 1993 to run the nation’s affairs, denies speculations that there was a pact in place for the late Abacha to succeed him in office.


However, speaking in an interview with TheScrutinyNG, Sagay argued that putting the blame of the annulment squarely on Abacha as IBB did is not justified as he (IBB) was the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.


He further argued that IBB could have retired the late Abacha to render him powerless rather than promoting him as Minister of Defence, which was the most senior military position back then after the Head of State.

“By putting the blame on Abacha, he just doesn't want to accept responsibility. He was the Head of State, he was the Commander-in- Chief. He was the most powerful man in the country. I believe IBB let the country down with his actions over the annulment. If he wanted the election to be upheld and MKO Abiola to assume office and some Generals were opposing it, he could have retired them immediately”.


“If you retire a senior military officer, he is as powerless as the next civilian. There is nothing he can do again. He can't give an order to anybody. Rather than retire them, IBB was promoting Abacha as his Khalifa (successor). He was holding hands with him in public. When he was leaving, he made him Minister of Defence, in other words, he gave Abacha the authority to assume power as the most senior military person left behind”.


“IBB prepared the stage for Abacha to take over from him so there is no way he can blame Abacha. He must have known that Abacha will do what he did. So, he has no excuse. I think he didn't want Abiola as president but he didn't want to be the one to say so. So, he put it on the head of Abacha who is a more headstrong man and more honest man than IBB. IBB is the Artful Dodger, the Maradona. He wanted to dodge the June 12 annulment blame but he is solely responsible because the bucks stops on his desk”.


Sagay however commended Babangida for writing the autobiography, saying leaders should endeavour to write their stories so that people can gain deep insight into what transpired while they were in office and learn from their mistakes.


“Well, I think it is always very important that those who have held public office should public their autobiography and make it public so that the world can learn from their experiences and people can clarify hidden facts that were not clear before. No matter what you think of the person, one ought to know what went on when he was there”.


“So, I think it was a very good thing that IBB wrote his autobiography. One of my greatest regret was that Chief FRA Williams who played such a large role in our pre-independence life and in the early life of Western Region and the country did not write an autobiography. A lot of information was lost as a result of that”.

https://thescrutinyng.com/ibb-never-wanted-abiola-as-president-he-left-abacha-behind-to-do-the-job-sagay/

We will all get to heaven someday , they won't be speculation there , the truth would stare us all in the face.

Babangidapikin:
We will all get to heaven someday , they won't be speculation there , the truth would stare us all in the face.

We wouldnt even need that truth by then. The info would be useless to us all

In life, do all you can to stay ahead. Oppress and step on necks if the need be. Karma doesnt exist(that shit strikes selectively) and nothing to for at the end of time

Babangida was never comfortable having friends that could look him in the face and call him out.
All the people he was comfortable with were "yes men"........
Even till today.....all the people you see around Babangida are "yes men"

MKO Abiola was nobody's "Yes Man"
He was jovial, nice and respectful....but if the candid truth had to be said, MKO Abiola would say it, regardless of whose ox was gored.

If you notice, Mamman Vatsa was also not a yes man
Dele Giwa was a journalist but not a yes man
Abacha was a loyal soldier but not necessarily a yes man

Babangida did not trust Abacha and he also did not trust MKO Abiola
But he trusted Abacha more....thats why he handed over to Abacha.
IBB had acquired so much stolen wealth, he just wanted to spend it in peace and not in exile.

IBB is truly an evil genius and a Maradona. He falsely blamed Abacha, the same man that savaged him from Orkar's coup and also falsely justified the summary execution of Vatsa even with limited evidence. To derail everyone from these lies, he identified the Igbos who are the most noisy tribe and used the 1966 coup to massaged their ego to suits their narrative.  And the Maradona succeeded in derailing everyone from his lies using the noisy Igbos by influencing them to align wholly with him. I've learnt a lot from this expecially the art of using people.

He is a lame writer anyway...

He is just evil. no two ways about it

malali:
Babangida was never comfortable having friends that could look him in the face and call him out.
All the people he was comfortable with were "yes men"........
Even till today.....all the people you see around Babangida are "yes men"

MKO Abiola was nobody's "Yes Man"
He was jovial, nice and respectful....but if the candid truth had to be said, MKO Abiola would say it, regardless of whose ox was gored.

If you notice, Mamman Vatsa was also not a yes man
Dele Giwa was a journalist but not a yes man
Abacha was a loyal soldier but not necessarily a yes man

Babangida did not trust Abacha and he also did not trust MKO Abiola
But he trusted Abacha more....thats why he handed over to Abacha.
IBB had acquired so much stolen wealth, he just wanted to spend it in peace and not in exile.

froxydydx:
IBB is truly an evil genius and a Maradona. He falsely blamed Abacha, the same man that savaged him from Orkar's coup and also falsely justified the summary execution of Vatsa even with limited evidence. To derail everyone from these lies, he identified the Igbos who are the most noisy tribe and used the 1966 coup to massaged their ego to suits their narrative.  And the Maradona succeeded in derailing everyone from his lies using the noisy Igbos by influencing them to align wholly with him. I've learnt a lot from this expecially the art of using people.

Why use the phrase " noisy tribe"
You go cry tire the coup is an awolowo coup.

Bookhub:


Why use the phrase " noisy tribe"
You go cry tire the coup is an awolowo coup.

I dont give a damn about Awolowo nor any of the three useless big for nothing tribes. But the fact remains that you guys are the most noisy tribe in Africa and the most easy to deceive. See how IBB AKA the real Maradona played your noisy tribe leg-over.

froxydydx:


I dont give a damn about Awolowo nor any of the three useless big for nothing tribes. But the fact remains that you guys are the most noisy tribe in Africa and the most easy to deceive. See how IBB AKA the real Maradona played your noisy tribe leg-over.

Noisy tribe you lots have refused to let go out of Nigeria,it seems you lots love the noise a lot.

I share the same sentiments.
Abacha was probably very desperate to be president and he and IBB had thought that Bashir Tofa would win, so that Abacha would just overthrow him after a few months in office and nobody would raise ethnic dust since both of them are northerners, but alas a southerner won and they had to summon all the guts they had to still do it notwithstanding.

Nigerians knew the coup was coming even before it was carried out. He retired everyone and left Abacha there!
Maradona wanted to score the last one with Nigerians but he missed. Not only that, the stadium is empty.

Bookhub:


Noisy tribe you lots have refused to let go out of Nigeria,it seems you lots love the noise a lot.

Your noisy tribe have a population of over 70 million, 15 senators, 5 governors, over 7 ministers, a service chief and over 50 in the federal House. So the useless excuse that some people refuse to let your noisy tribe go is lame.

froxydydx:
IBB is truly an evil genius and a Maradona. He falsely blamed Abacha, the same man that savaged him from Orkar's coup and also falsely justified the summary execution of Vatsa even with limited evidence. To derail everyone from these lies, he identified the Igbos who are the most noisy tribe and used the 1966 coup to massaged their ego to suits their narrative.  And the Maradona succeeded in derailing everyone from his lies using the noisy Igbos by influencing them to align wholly with him. I've learnt a lot from this expecially the art of using people.

Well said

froxydydx:


I dont give a damn about Awolowo nor any of the three useless big for nothing tribes. But the fact remains that you guys are the most noisy tribe in Africa and the most easy to deceive. See how IBB AKA the real Maradona played your noisy tribe leg-over.

Mumu, how did he deceive your stupid tribe for being honest with what happened in 1966? I'm sure you are drunk or just finished one pipe of India hemp, take your frustration to your useless tribe and parents who rendered your life useless

froxydydx:


Your noisy tribe have a population of over 70 million, 15 senators, 5 governors, over 7 ministers, a service chief and over 50 in the federal House. So the useless excuse that some people refuse to let your noisy tribe go is lame.

You are nothing but a fool

PaellaPaella:








Mumu, how did he deceive your stupid tribe for being honest with what happened in 1966? I'm sure you are drunk or just finished one pipe of India hemp, take your frustration to your useless tribe and parents who rendered your life useless

Don't mind the slowpoke with no common sense

COMRADES, even birds of the air know that IBB never wanted it to happen

Let bygone be bygone abeg

froxydydx:


Your noisy tribe have a population of over 70 million, 15 senators, 5 governors, over 7 ministers, a service chief and over 50 in the federal House. So the useless excuse that some people refuse to let your noisy tribe go is lame.

If you have any issue with IBB kindly take it to him and leave Igbo out of that your dirty gutter you called mouth

ElSudani:
Nigerians knew the coup was coming even before it was carried out. He retired everyone and left Abacha there!
Maradona wanted to score the last one with Nigerians but he missed. Not only that, the stadium is empty.

I use to think why didn't Shonekan retire Abacha and his henchmen in those three months before Abacha striked? He's he part of the grand scheme or just clueless?

fickleawolowo:








You are nothing but a fool

Namdi Kanu was studying Chemistry in UNN, but had to drop out due to poor academic performance.  His parents looked for money and managed to send the dull spoiled boy to UK to study arts which is less difficult,  yet he still graduated with a poor grade that he couldn't secure any job with the certificate in a country like UK with so much opportunities. He has never been successful in any life's endeavour because he's terrible dull. That's the calibre of clown leading the Biafra charade for you foolish lots. You can see that you are the foolish one here and very easily fooled too.

fickleawolowo:







Don't mind the slowpoke with no common sense

I think you should focus on Akpu and your fake drugs instead of coming here to argue foolishly

Blankstare:


I use to think why didn't Shonekan retire Abacha and his henchmen in those three months before Abacha striked? He's he part of the grand scheme or just clueless?

The military never left, Shonekan was basically their captive. I doubt if he could have done that without it leaking which would have made his exit much faster.
Babangida was indeed an evil genius.

PaellaPaella:








Mumu, how did he deceive your stupid tribe for being honest with what happened in 1966? I'm sure you are drunk or just finished one pipe of India hemp, take your frustration to your useless tribe and parents who rendered your life useless

See this Nkpurunmiri and fake drug clown talking trash. IBB played you guys big time. He used you noisy clowns to salvage his obnoxious past.

froxydydx:


Namdi Kanu was studying Chemistry in UNN, but had to drop out due to poor academic performance.  His parents looked for money and managed to send the dull spoiled boy to UK to study arts which is less difficult,  yet he still graduated with a poor grade that he couldn't secure any job with the certificate in a country like UK with so much opportunities. He has never been successful in any life's endeavour because he's terrible dull. That's the calibre of clown leading the Biafra charade for you foolish lots. You can see that you are the foolish one here and very easily fooled too.

You are not intelligent, see the kind of mumu and village boy I'm talking with, i thought you get sense and wise, how do you know every Igbo is in of Kanu? are you drunk or mad?
I'm not Kanu fan, neither do i have any business with any secessionist, Kanu used to have few fans until Government turn him into a star and popular with their stupidity by invading his family home, in Abia State, the rest is history, nothing make sense in your long epistle, stop describing your parents as foolish lots on public forum and go get a life

froxydydx:


I think you should focus on Akpu and your fake drugs instead of coming here to argue foolishly

You are beginning to sound emotional and Immature, i don't have time for miscreants like you because you are not intelligent at all

froxydydx:


See this Nkpurunmiri and fake drug clown talking trash. IBB played you guys big time. He used you noisy clowns to salvage his obnoxious past.

You sounds like a narcist and you must be allergic to truth, IBB confession really hit you so hard, i know your source is gone forever and i understand the kind of pains you are going through at the moment, i wish you quick recovery

Totally agree with you. Abiola was an insider like them. When u add his popular mandate & his messianic zeal to change Nigeria after witnessing Mandela’s impact during his inauguration, he committed his life to changing Nigeria. I blame the cowardly Yoruba military who chickened out instead coming out with a game plan of forcing Shonekan at gun point to retire Abacha on national TV & install Abiola.

malali:
Babangida was never comfortable having friends that could look him in the face and call him out.
All the people he was comfortable with were "yes men"........
Even till today.....all the people you see around Babangida are "yes men"

MKO Abiola was nobody's "Yes Man"
He was jovial, nice and respectful....but if the candid truth had to be said, MKO Abiola would say it, regardless of whose ox was gored.

If you notice, Mamman Vatsa was also not a yes man
Dele Giwa was a journalist but not a yes man
Abacha was a loyal soldier but not necessarily a yes man

Babangida did not trust Abacha and he also did not trust MKO Abiola
But he trusted Abacha more....thats why he handed over to Abacha.
IBB had acquired so much stolen wealth, he just wanted to spend it in peace and not in exile.

Abacha wont take orders from Shonekan

ElSudani:

The military never left, Shonekan was basically their captive. I doubt if he could have done that without it leaking which would have made his exit much faster.
Babangida was indeed an evil genius.

PaellaPaella:








You sounds like a narcist and you must be allergic to truth, IBB confession really hit you so hard, i know your source of joy is gone forever and i understand the kind of pains you are going through at the moment, i wish you quick recovery

shonekan was clueless. some journalists met him and asked for tea. He ordered them to bring tea but they didnt bring the tea throughout the meeting

Blankstare:


I use to think why didn't Shonekan retire Abacha and his henchmen in those three months before Abacha striked? He's he part of the grand scheme or just clueless?