Former Military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) has said the palace coup staged by the late General Sani Abacha which ended the Interim National Government headed by the late Ernest Shonekan did not come to him as a surprise.
Speaking in an interview with Trust TV, IBB who launched his autobiography titled ‘A Journey In Service’ last week said even though he had left the military, he was aware of happenings within the corridors of power
When asked the question ‘Did the Abacha Coup Surprise You? IBB replied ‘No, it never did. I knew it (coup) will come because even though I was outside –outside the service – I knew what was going on”.
On why he didn’t retire Abacha when he was stepping down as Head of State, IBB said he deliberately left him behind so that he can provide strength to the Interim National Government.
“The idea was to give the interim government confidence that there is somebody, a military man, who is well known, who can be accepted, who can provide strength to the interim government up to the time it hands over to a democratically elected government and he was the only most senior one, who had the name and had the experience, to help in protecting that government”.
Also speaking on the controversy that trailed Abacha’s death, IBB said he believed he died a natural death.
“As a Muslim yes, I would say that it is a natural death because God said that every one of us will die, so if death comes it shouldn’t surprise me as a Muslim. He may. have some underlining problems, health problem and so on but at the end of the day, he will die because that is the way God willed it”.
