Minna—It was a gathering of the who’s who in the nation’s business and political firmament at Minna, yesterday, to await the arrival of former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), his
son, Mohammed, and the body of the former First Lady, Mrs. Maryam Babangida, who died of ovarian cancer in a U.S hospital on Sunday

Babangida arrived in a chartered German aircraft marked CS-DPF at 5. 45 p.m. but without the body of the deceased. The retired general sobbed profusely as he alighted from the plane and was unable to acknowledge greetings from sympathisers.

SEE DETAILS AT:   http://www.newsinnigeria..com

mrlizo:

The retired general sobbed profusely
SEE DETAILS AT: http://www.newsinnigeria..com

The rich also cry

Even Jesus wept!
Other families wept because of this General's cruel Acts and they are still weeping.
So Kini big deal . , . . . .If he weeps.
Wish he weeps the thy kingdom come

What the heck this have to do with politics? I think it is time I lobby for a position of a tough moderator. FFS. Who gives a shi.t if he cries? Next you will put you thinking caps on and make a thread that Babangida shi.ts too. Jesus wept!

Mamman Vatsa and Dele Giwa Families wept too

WilyWily:

Mamman Vatsa and Dele Giwa Families wept too

Thank you!

During his regime alot of people wept even till now and in the future.abeg make we hear word.

What ever gave you the idea that Babangida is a tough general. The same Babangida that ran and asked his ADC to confront coup plotters and consequently hid in Surulere for a week while Abacha was quelling the coup.

Everybody weeps irrespective of your status and position.

Katsumoto:

What ever gave you the idea that Babangida is a tough general. The same Babangida that ran and asked his ADC to confront coup plotters and consequently hid in Surulere for a week while Abacha was quelling the coup.

To be a General, one have to have fought a war and command an Army active in war. I am not so sure IBB have any of those. I am sure someone who knows better than me will give out the facts in a minute.

ElRazur!

I have just discovered that you are nothing but a lobbyist, nobody will make you a moderator, unless you want to be writting down the names of noisemakers like you.

Check IBB's biography, you will know that the man is indeed a General. Maybe not your own kind of General (Mouthy).

Pls think deeply be4 you post.

OEO:

ElRazur!

I have just discovered that you are nothing but a lobbyist, nobody will make you a moderator, unless you want to be writting down the names of noisemakers like you.

Check IBB's biography, you will know that the man is indeed a General. Maybe not your own kind of General (Mouthy).

Pls think deeply be4 you post.

You should try engaging your brain. Try and look up on "figure of speech". Once you know what that means, it will become clear that I am not asking to be a mod.

In the mean time, can you explain to me what war IBB physically fought in? Like I said, I am waiting for those who know more than me to shed light on that aspect. IBB is no difference in my opinion to Idi amin - He gave him self medals that he never fought in the war, and awarded himself promotions that are questionable.

ElRazur!

Thank you. I have discovered that you are a small boy and does not deserve my time and wealth of experience.

Needless to share any with a slowpoke.

Kosovo!

thanks bro!

ElRazur:


You should try engaging your brain. Try and look up on "figure of speech". Once you know what that means, it will become clear that I am not asking to be a mod.

In the mean time, can you explain to me what war IBB physically fought in? Like I said, I am waiting for those who know more than me to shed light on that aspect. IBB is no difference in my opinion to Idi amin - He gave him self medals that he never fought in the war, and awarded himself promotions that are questionable.

I think most Nigerians will concur. . .

FORMER Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd) bowed to emotions last night as his wife for nearly 40 years, Mayram was interred, in their Hill Top Home, Minna, Niger State

Maryam whose body arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at about 11 pm yesterday was brought to Minna, Niger state capital in an Air Ambulance, arriving the mansion of the Babangidas in a long motor cade.

The corpse arrived the home at about 11.45 pm accompanied by Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, Sani Ndanusa (Sports Minister) and Adamu Aliero, (FCT Minister) on behalf of the Federal Government.

Prayers for the reposed of the soul of Maryam began at 12.45am led by the Chief Imam of Minna, Alhaji Isah Fari.

The crowd surged as the prayers moved in order to catch last glimpse of the former glamorous first lady.

A close confidant of the Babangidas, Alhaji Abdulkarim Kure piloted affairs, assisted by former Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), DG, Brig. Halilu Akilu Dignitaries present at the ceremony included former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, Governors Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Namadi Sambo, (Kaduna), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) Magatakarda Wamakko (Sokoto) among others.

There were also former military colleagues to Babangida, Gen. John Shagaya, (rtd) former Security operative, Umaru Shinkafi, Captain Nogie Megason, Tayo Amusun, wife of Kwara State Governor, Mrs Toyin Saraki, PDP Chieftain, Tony Anenih, former CBN Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and a very large number of National Assembly members, and past and present members of the political class.

Her interment came a day earlier than scheduled because of what a family member explained "in order to curtail an uncontrollable crowd since security operatives might not be able to control the surging crowd if she was buried in the day."

Earlier, it was a heart-rending spectacle yesterday as Gen. Ibrahim Babangida wept profusely on arrival at Minna Airport at 5.45 p.m. in a private aircraft to await the return of the remains of his wife, Maryam, who died in the United States (U.S.) at the weekend.

She passed on last Sunday at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Centre (UCLA), Los Angeles after a battle with ovarian cancer.

Gen. Babangida returned to receive the body, which will be buried at 11:00 a.m. today beside the family mosque at his Hilltop Mansion in Minna.

The uncontrollable weeping of Nigeria's former military President for eight years forced many people at the airport to burst into tears.

Babangida was received by his son-in-law and Zamfara State Governor Aliyi Shinkafi as well as the General's first son, Mohammed and others.

Also, at the airport were Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Anambra governorship candidate, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo and former governor of Yobe State, Bukar Abba Ibrahim among others.

Babangida, dressed in black caftan, arrived at his residence at 6.10 pm in company of Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu and others in a 38-seater coaster bus bearing the official seal of the state government.

Meanwhile, the three-day fidau prayers for the repose of the soul of the late former First Lady have been held in Minna.

The two and half hours prayer was performed by the chief iman of Minna Central Mosque, Alhaji Abu Fari who prayed for forgiveness.

The prayer was attended by immediate family members, sympathisers and other dignitaries including former head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, Aliyu and Shinkafi, and the Minister for Interior, Alhaji Shettima Mustapha. Erstwhile governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abdulkadir Kure and Alhaji Dettijo Aliyu, a former commissioner for heath in the state and cousin to Gen. Babangida, were also there.

Thousands of Nigerians have continued to troop to the hill-top mansion to register their condolence. They included former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon and his wife, Victoria, former Lagos State military governor, Brig. Gen. Raji Rasaki, former governor of Cross River State, Col. Anthony Ukpo, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi.

Others included the Governor of Osun State Olagunsoye Oyinlola and former Minister for Works and Housing Tony Anenih.

Gowon noted that the late Maryam was an exceptionally good first lady who dedicated her life especially to the rural women and Nigeria in general.

Gowon said: "It is a very sad occasion for all of us and she will be sorely missed by her husband, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida as well as the children who were left behind.

"We hope that they (children) follow her footsteps and ensure that they maintain the legacy she left behind through life."

Gen. Abubakar remarked: "She has really played her role as the first lady of Nigeria. She brought the Better Life Programme for the rural woman and I believe that through her office the rural woman has been brought to the fore and a lot of things have been done for the rural areas. She has played her role as the First Lady and as set the tone of how first ladies should contribute their own quota in the affairs of the nation."

Oyinlola said: "It is my own person that I have lost; I have been with the family since I was 20 years of age and I pray that the good lord continues to uphold the family."

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau yesterday condoled with Babangida.

In the letter dated December 28, 2009 and addressed to Gen. Babangida, he said: "It is with deep sense of grief that, I, on behalf of the entire Army, commiserate with you and your entire family,

"Her Excellency was a loving mother to all, especially the less privileged in the society throughout her life time. Her passion for the welfare of wives of officers and soldiers when she was the National President of Nigerian Army Officers' Wives Association was remarkable and a source of encouragement to all those who attained that post after her. She will surely be missed and remembered by all in the Nigerian Army and the country at large.

"It is my fervent prayer that the Almighty God will grant you and those she left behind the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. Once again, please accept our heartfelt condolences."

Also, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) yesterday, commiserated with the Babangidas, lauding Maryam's "pioneering efforts on the upliftment of women's welfare".

NBA, in a statement by its Assistant Publicity Secretary, Gbolahan Gbadamosi, on behalf of the NBA President, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), noted that she was " a pride to African women."

According to the Association: "The sad news of the death of a friend of rural women after succumbing to the terminal ailment came to us as an unkind piece at this period.

"It is on record that her pet project- Better Life for the Rural Woman brought succour to underprivileged women. Her legacy on this score is worthy of emulation.

"We are consoled by the effort she put in the service of humanity and pray that God will give the Babangidas the courage to bear the irreparable loss".

A business mogul and Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao, has also condoled Babangida.

In a statement yesterday, Arisekola-Alao said: "Every soul shall have a taste of death and Allah will, by his mercy compensate us of our deeds on the day of judgment and those that the Almighty Allah admitted into the garden would have succeeded and Hajia Maryam Babangida will insha Allah be one of them.

" I hereby express my heartfelt condolence to my brother, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria over the death of his wife, Hajia Maryam Babangida. "Please, take consolation from God that our departed wife and mother played her part very well, History will never forget her. May the merciful Allah accept her. Amen."

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news/article02//indexn2_html?pdate=301209&ptitle=Babangida%20returns%20to%20receive%20Maryam%27s%20body,%20weeps

The Babangidas


Probably the most well-known of the silver spoons in the country, Aisha, Mohammed, Aminu are full-fledged celebrities. Mohammed’s and Aisha’s weddings, despite taking place years back, is still the talk of the town. Mohammed is better known for his excellent polo skills, and is believed to be a +4 handicap player. For Aminu, he runs Abuja-based Phoenix Oil with Sheriff, Bola Shagaya’s son

http://odili.net/news/source/2007/oct/11/605.html#

adconline:

The Babangidas


Probably the most well-known of the silver spoons in the country, Aisha, Mohammed, Aminu are full-fledged celebrities. Mohammed’s and Aisha’s weddings, despite taking place years back, is still the talk of the town. Mohammed is better known for his excellent polo skills, and is believed to be a +4 handicap player. For Aminu, he runs Abuja-based Phoenix Oil with Sheriff, Bola Shagaya’s son

http://odili.net/news/source/2007/oct/11/605.html#

All these, is the result of the sleepless night their parents used to thieve nigeria's money.Good for them, they had visionary parents.

now they live in luxury and affluence

ElRazur:

To be a General, one have to have fought a war and command an Army active in war. I am not so sure IBB have any of those. I am sure someone who knows better than me will give out the facts in a minute.

Despite the fact that i am in no way a fan of IBB and i believe he his one of our problems. The fact remains he was one of Nigeria most intelligent soldier, IBB did fight in the civil war and was a commanding officer in that war as well. IBB was a brave soldier that went to confron Buka Suka Dimka at Radio Nigeria in 1975 after it was known the Head of state had been killed. It takes a brave soldier to do that, because those coup plotter were terribly drunk and he negotiated intelligently to avoid a major bloodshed on that day, this was a time when OBJ had run into hiding and he was the NO 2.

It is not easy to be a COAS , you have to be indeed a fine officer which was why Buhari appointed IBB as the COAS although he was betrayed.

Yes IBB was a terrible leader but his courage and braveness should not be denied.

Crying for the bereaved is what even the toughest of humans will do , when he his alone as this was a wife of close to 40 years. Common guys we are all human!

Lagosboy:

Despite the fact that i am in no way a fan of IBB and i believe he his one of our problems. The fact remains he was one of Nigeria most intelligent soldier, IBB did fight in the civil war and was a commanding officer in that war as well. IBB was a brave soldier that went to confron Buka Suka Dimka at Radio Nigeria in 1975 after it was known the Head of state had been killed. It takes a brave soldier to do that, because those coup plotter were terribly drunk and he negotiated intelligently to avoid a major bloodshed on that day, this was a time when OBJ had run into hiding and he was the NO 2.

It is not easy to be a COAS , you have to be indeed a fine officer which was why Buhari appointed IBB as the COAS although he was betrayed.

Yes IBB was a terrible leader but his courage and braveness should not be denied.

Crying for the bereaved is what even the toughest of humans will do , when he his alone as this was a wife of close to 40 years. Common guys we are all human!

This is not completely true. IBB always avoids conflict. Danjuma gave IBB an order to get Dimka out of the radio at all cost. When IBB got there, he started negotiating with Dimka pleading with him to give up. When IBB tried to act as negotiator by informing Danjuma of Dimka's demands, Danjuma was livid and gave the order to blow up the radio station; again IBB did nothing. It was Major Chris Ugokwe who forced Dimka out of the station in a fire fight. IBB was a terrible leader and a coward but he was intelligent no doubt.

You could tell, he loved that woman.
And i respect him for that.

Katsumoto:

This is not completely true. IBB always avoids conflict. Danjuma gave IBB an order to get Dimka out of the radio at all cost. When IBB got there, he started negotiating with Dimka pleading with him to give up. When IBB tried to act as negotiator by informing Danjuma of Dimka's demands, Danjuma was livid and gave the order to blow up the radio station; again IBB did nothing. It was Major Chris Ugokwe who forced Dimka out of the station in a fire fight. IBB was a terrible leader and a coward but he was intelligent no doubt.

Yeah i agree with your story but my understanding is there is a fine line between bravery and intelligence. The repercussions of a full fledged fire fight with terribly drunk soldiers would not have been good. If Dimka had been killed in the fight , the true story of the coup would probably have never seen the light of the day and Bisalla would have been a free man. If you know what i mean.

IBB was indeed a terrible leader but i dont think he was a coward, he was just to smart to know confrontation sometimes doest achieve his desires.

Fhemmmy:

You could tell, he loved that woman.
And i respect him for that.

Femi, are sure he was crying cos of love and not for something else.

don't trust that Maradonna, could be a deception, for Naija sympathy towards his political ambition.

He should have finished weeping b4 coming to Naija now, the wife died since Sunday.

I am not moved by his tears o.

A close confidant of the Babangidas, Alhaji Abdulkarim Kure piloted affairs, assisted by former Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), DG, Brig. Halilu Akilu Dignitaries present at the ceremony included former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, Governors Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Namadi Sambo, (Kaduna), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) Magatakarda Wamakko (Sokoto) among others.

There were also former military colleagues to Babangida, Gen. John Shagaya, (rtd) former Security operative, Umaru Shinkafi, Captain Nogie Megason, Tayo Amusun, wife of Kwara State Governor, Mrs Toyin Saraki, PDP Chieftain, Tony Anenih, former CBN Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and a very large number of National Assembly members, and past and present members of the political class.

what a beautiful list right? The elite of Nigeria from all regions are there to console IBB, a murderer, a liar, and a thief. Theres only to two types of class in Nigeria the oppressors and the oppressed.

Nice tho I must say it reminds me that all of them are the same regardless of regions, religion or tribe. 

F*** Nigeria lemmi make my money tho!

Lagosboy:

Despite the fact that i am in no way a fan of IBB and i believe he his one of our problems. The fact remains he was one of Nigeria most intelligent soldier, IBB did fight in the civil war and was a commanding officer in that war as well. IBB was a brave soldier that went to confron Buka Suka Dimka at Radio Nigeria in 1975 after it was known the Head of state had been killed. It takes a brave soldier to do that, because those coup plotter were terribly drunk and he negotiated intelligently to avoid a major bloodshed on that day, this was a time when OBJ had run into hiding and he was the NO 2.

It is not easy to be a COAS , you have to be indeed a fine officer which was why Buhari appointed IBB as the COAS although he was betrayed.

Yes IBB was a terrible leader but his courage and braveness should not be denied.

Crying for the bereaved is what even the toughest of humans will do , when he his alone as this was a wife of close to 40 years. Common guys we are all human!

Please provide proofs and more information on the alleged war he fought in. Please provide information on the Unit he commanded, his missions and roles etc. I am sceptical. Very sceptical. Surely there should be some record somewhere?

To call IBB an intelligent soldier is an insult to the Armed forces in Nigeria.

Confronting an enemy is a standard principle in which all soldier are trained and built upon. . . .So you want a cookie for IBB for that?

ElRazur:


Please provide proofs and more information on the alleged war he fought in.  Please provide information on the Unit he commanded, his missions and roles etc. I am sceptical. Very sceptical. Surely there should be some record somewhere?

To call IBB an intelligent soldier is an insult to the Armed forces in Nigeria. 

Confronting an enemy is a standard principle in which all soldier are trained and built upon. . . .So you want a cookie for IBB for that?

It is alleged that he fought in the civil war; he was supposedly in the 2nd division under Murtala. That was the division responsible for killing the men and boys in cold bold at Asaba. There are several texts indicating that he was a commanding officer in that division but nothing mentions the brigade that he commanded. So it is inconclusive what his role was in the civil war. Perhaps someone else can shed light on this.

Katsumoto:

It is alleged that he fought in the civil war; he was supposedly in the 2nd division under Murtala. That was the division responsible for killing the men and boys in cold bold at Asaba. There are several texts indicating that he was a commanding officer in that division but not mentions the brigade that he commanded. So it is inconclusive what his role was in the civil war. Perhaps someone else can shed light on this.

That is what I thought, but I am sure Lagos Boy in his infinite wisdom and super Google power can tell us something we don't know.

I suppose if your allegations are right, he is not exactly a soldier but an uncivilised barbarian. And speaking of allegations, wasn't it reported that he was responsible for the death of Dele Giwa [allegedly!]. How someone can call him intelligent is beyond me. A cold calculated killer maybe. . . but not an intelligent officer.

@elrazur,
since you are flagging all my points , i think i will read on. i dey feel you bro. IBB my backside.

WHAT??!!!

ROTFLMAO, this dude is still alive?

Babangida arrived in a chartered German aircraft marked CS-DPF at 5. 45 p.m.

From left, Alhaji Umaru Ndanusa; Brig-Gen. Haliru Akilu (rtd); Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), and Maj-Gen. Hamza Abdullahi (rtd), at the Minna Airport, yesterday to sympathize with the IBB family.


Eeeya, weep not General. Dele Giwa will laugh at you.


Boot lickers hanging around as if they care

Trust Aloyemeka the photographer to take pictures