Former Nigerian Military Leader Ibrahim Babangida Reveals He Was Held Hostage by Coup Plotters
In a shocking revelation, Olusegun Osoba, a former governor of Ogun State, has claimed that Ibrahim Babangida, a former military Head of State in Nigeria, was held hostage by those who helped him overthrow his predecessor, General Muhammadu Buhari.
According to Osoba, Babangida told him and other journalists that he had no choice but to listen to his fellow coup plotters, including Late Sani Abacha and Aliyu Gusau, who were involved in the 1985 coup that ousted Buhari from power.
In an interview with ThisDay, Osoba recalled an incident where they bluntly told Babangida about the wrongdoings in his government. Babangida, seemingly taken aback, revealed that he was "hostage" to those who staged the coup and put him in power.
"I am hostage to those who staged the coup and those who put me here," Babangida allegedly said. "And if I didn’t listen to what they wanted, they would get me out in seconds. And that there are no absolute powers."
Osoba further revealed that despite being held hostage, Babangida still managed to tolerate journalists who told him the truth behind closed doors. "So, when we wrote stories, they already knew that we had told them the truth. And then tolerated us," he said.
This revelation provides a rare glimpse into the inner workings of Nigeria’s military regime and the extent to which power was wielded during that period. It also raises questions about the nature of leadership and the role of individuals in shaping the course of history.
