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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcwyxS-BEWI Babangida and Abacha in 1984

General Ibrahim Babangida and General Sani Abacha were two of the most influential military figures in Nigeria's history. Both men were commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1963 and steadily rose through the ranks. Together, they played decisive roles in shaping Nigeria’s political landscape from the 1980s through the 1990s.

Though they were close allies in several military coups, their relationship was never founded on absolute trust. Beneath the surface of cooperation lay a careful balance of ambition, strategic calculation, and mutual suspicion.

Their collaboration gained national prominence during the December 1983 coup that toppled President Shehu Shagari and ended Nigeria’s Second Republic. Two years later, in August 1985, they worked together again to remove General Muhammadu Buhari.
Their alliance was strategic: Babangida served as the political mastermind, while Abacha operated as the military enforcer.

Once in power, Babangida appointed Abacha to several high-profile positions, including Chief of Army Staff (1985–1990), and later Chief of Defence Staff (1990–1993). Yet, despite these appointments, Babangida, known for his “Maradonic” political maneuvering was careful never to cede full control of the armed forces. He retained a firm grip on the military hierarchy, fully aware of Abacha’s growing influence and ambitions.

Abacha, for his part, remained publicly loyal but was never naive. Behind the scenes, he cultivated his own power base and built a strong network of loyal officers within the army. While he continued to serve as a key figure in Babangida’s administration, he was always politically alert and quietly preparing for what lay ahead.

When Babangida annulled the June 12, 1993 presidential election and was forced to “step aside” amidst national outcry, he handed over power to an Interim National Government led by Chief Ernest Shonekan. But the arrangement was short-lived. On November 17, 1993, Abacha seized control in a bloodless palace coup, removed Shonekan, and assumed full leadership of the Nigerian state.

Though they worked together for years, both Babangida and Abacha understood a hard truth of Nigeria’s military era: power was rarely shared freely, and loyalty was often provisional. Their story remains a revealing portrait of how personal ambition, political strategy, and military alliances shaped the trajectory of Nigeria’s modern history.

#history_daily

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Generals Babangida & Abacha Influence On Nigeria's Political History

You just got to give it to them. They were expert military coup plotting merchants who were forced on the system by the feudal power lords. They ended up manipulating the skewed and defective imbalance therein to destroyed a nation.

Babangida was always flexible and diplomatic chop I chop fella. However corruption thrived Wella under his government. We used to wave him goodbyes when his car passes via the presidential drive way in Dodan Barracks back then.

I actually love Abacha's precision and ruthlessness. Came close to him @ Officers Mess Agodi Ibadan back then. He is taciturn, rarely speaking but always focused on his target or objective.

Strong men in Nigeria government sector, may God bless Nigeria.

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Live from Late Ex-president state

Babangida was military president from 1985 to 1993 before stepping aside in the heat of the June 12 crisis, while Abacha took power in 1993 and ruled till June 1998 when he suddenly died.

Two strong men.

Maradona. This man seems to own Nigeria. A kingmaker. He has done well

The evil ones who played no mean part in destroying the country

Posterity will keep judging them

I remember how the streets in the south roared into celebration when it was announced that abacha had died.

His government didn't take criticism lightly as people talked against him in hush tone fearing that neighbours could snitch on them

I remember then all the 5 political parties nominated him as their presidential candidate as they were begging him to run on their platform.

I remember there was this rallt
One million man match in march- when youth from all over Nigeria where brought to Abuja to rally for abacha to become president.

Rumour has it that this rally among manh other issues was what sparked militancy in niger delta because those niger delta youths saw how abuja was developed with their oyel money and they wanted a piece of the action too

There was also this movement-Youths earnestly ask for Abacha

But now who remembers them- Truly nothing dey this life o

But sometimes i wonder how Nigeria would have fared if he converted into a civilian president.....he would have become an president for life

whippersnapper:
Maradona. This man seems to own Nigeria. A kingmaker. He has done well

who and who did he make kings?

more characters needed

tuoyoojo:
I remember how the streets in the south roared into celebration when it was announced that abacha had died.

His government didn't take criticism lightly as people talked against him in hush tone fearing that neighbours could snitch on them

I remember then then all the 5 political parties nominated him as their presidential candidate as they were begging him to run on their platform.

I remember there was this movement
One million match in march- when youth from all over Nigeria where brought to abuja to rally for him. Rumour has it that it sparked militancy because those niger delta youths saw how abuja was developed with their oyel money and they wanted a piece of the action too and its ignited the struggle

There was also this movement-Youths earnestly ask for Abacha

But now who remembers them- Truly nothing dey this life o

But sometimes i wonder how Nigeria would have fared if he converted into a civilian president.....he would have become an president for life

How is the streets fairing now after his death? We've had more daily deaths than a single year of his regime.
Between 1999-2000 more innocent lives were lost than 5 years of Abacha governance.

Racoon:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcwyxS-BEWI Babangida and Abacha in 1984

General Ibrahim Babangida and General Sani Abacha were two of the most influential military figures in Nigeria's history. Both men were commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1963 and steadily rose through the ranks. Together, they played decisive roles in shaping Nigeria’s political landscape from the 1980s through the 1990s.

Though they were close allies in several military coups, their relationship was never founded on absolute trust. Beneath the surface of cooperation lay a careful balance of ambition, strategic calculation, and mutual suspicion.

Their collaboration gained national prominence during the December 1983 coup that toppled President Shehu Shagari and ended Nigeria’s Second Republic. Two years later, in August 1985, they worked together again to remove General Muhammadu Buhari.
Their alliance was strategic: Babangida served as the political mastermind, while Abacha operated as the military enforcer.

Once in power, Babangida appointed Abacha to several high-profile positions, including Chief of Army Staff (1985–1990), and later Chief of Defence Staff (1990–1993). Yet, despite these appointments, Babangida, known for his “Maradonic” political maneuvering was careful never to cede full control of the armed forces. He retained a firm grip on the military hierarchy, fully aware of Abacha’s growing influence and ambitions.

Abacha, for his part, remained publicly loyal but was never naive. Behind the scenes, he cultivated his own power base and built a strong network of loyal officers within the army. While he continued to serve as a key figure in Babangida’s administration, he was always politically alert and quietly preparing for what lay ahead.

When Babangida annulled the June 12, 1993 presidential election and was forced to “step aside” amidst national outcry, he handed over power to an Interim National Government led by Chief Ernest Shonekan. But the arrangement was short-lived. On November 17, 1993, Abacha seized control in a bloodless palace coup, removed Shonekan, and assumed full leadership of the Nigerian state.

Though they worked together for years, both Babangida and Abacha understood a hard truth of Nigeria’s military era: power was rarely shared freely, and loyalty was often provisional. Their story remains a revealing portrait of how personal ambition, political strategy, and military alliances shaped the trajectory of Nigeria’s modern history.

#history_daily

https://www.facebook.com/share/19NoTSjjwL/

Generals Babangida & Abacha Influence On Nigeria's Political History

The "evil genius" or "Maradona" he was called because of his endless postponement of the transition to the Democratic rule. He is now wheelchair-bound.

For the other Kanuri military guy called Abacha who blatantly oversaw the executions and assassinations (through the insidious military Strike Force led by Major Hamza Al-Mustapha) of his political opponents [such as Alhaji Kudirat Abiola, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Chief Alfred Rewane, Olu Onagoruwa's son, the 1996 car bombing of the Chief Security Officer of the MMIA, etc], while he also STOLE over 4 billion U.S. dollars of Nigeria's money through the Central Bank into foreign offshore bank accounts in what is NOW infamously known worldwide as the "Abacha loot," his disgrace and ignominy is fully guaranteed in the annals of world history. Period.

tommy589:
How is the streets fairing now after his death. We've had more deaths than in his regime.
Between 1999-2000 more innocent lives were lost than his 5 years of Abacha governance

Have you read this poem .....the road not taken

If you haven't please do

If you don't understand it, ask chatgpt to break it down for you

I just did!

With the serious agitation for return to civillian rule,how do you rate democracy after 25 years in reference to the poem


"The Uncertainty:
The poem concludes with the speaker suggesting that his choice "made all the difference," but the ambiguity of the statement leaves the reader to question whether the difference was positive or negative"

Before reading, just by seeing the OP.You know he's here to tell us these dictators are lovely people. LoLz
i am beginning to think the beating Tinubu gave opposition can be a sin. He beat them silly to the point of losing their thin.king facu lties.

The two generals destroyed Nigeria beyond redemption. Only God almighty will judge them for their greed and abysmal failure that brought us to our knees.

If only they were like Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso, the story would have been different.

I was in SS class when IBB stepped down and later, Abacha overthrown shonekan. At first, we thought he'll transfer power to Abiola. Back then I had a circle of friends that always discuss politics in school. We always come to school with yesterday's papers. I remember we used to inscribe IBB Must Go on our school buildings. Later it became Abacha Must Go. Both men were in power for a combined period of 13 years. If you add Obasanjo and Buhari, it is 33 years.

That means four men controlled the destiny of Nigeria for 33 years and today there's little or nothing to show for it.

I get the picture now.

It was actually babangida that looked for Abacha wahala. No wonder he couldn't do anything when they asked him to cancel June 12 election.

I think during all the coups these two heartless men carried out they planned to take turns in becoming the head of state.

After they had agreed that it wld be Abacha after babangida, babangida now went ahead with election. Abacha was going to kill babangida if he had announced the winner in the June 12 election.

power is transient . Where are they today. Not relevant

Time must pass for everyone.

Abacha is dead. Ibb is taciturn in his hilltop mansion. Crippled by age.


There was a time when if wither of them sneezed the nation would tremble.

Even with this humans don't learn a lesson.


Eventually the leveller of all men will come for us all.

I guess you knew both Generals better than the average Nigerian, even if it wasn’t personal. I am really fascinated by both men and it would have been a great honour listening to the mindset each had that propelled him to the top.
In your opinion, between them, who would you rate as a better all round soldier/General?

Racoon:
You just got to give it to them. They were expert military coup plotting merchants who were forced on the system by the feudal power lords. They ended up manipulating the skewed and defective imbalance therein to destroyed a nation.

Babangida was always flexible and diplomatic chop I chop fella. However corruption thrived Wella under his government. We used to wave him goodbyes when his car passes via the presidential drive way in Dodan Barracks back then.

I actually love Abacha's precision and ruthlessness. Came close to him @ Officers Mess Agodi Ibadan back then. He is taciturn, rarely speaking but always focused on his target or objective.

Interesting read. Babangida institutionalized corruption in Nigeria.