IBB’s book is full of claims against the dead – Chidi Odinkalu
Former Chairman of the Nigerian Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chidi Odinkalu, has accused former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), of making false claims against deceased individuals in his autobiography, A Journey in Service.
According to reports, Babangida’s regime remains controversial for annulling the June 12, 1993, presidential election won by Chief M.K.O. Abiola, as well as the 1986 parcel bomb assassination of investigative journalist Dele Giwa, who had exposed corruption and human rights abuses.
His tenure was also marked by multiple alleged coup attempts, leading to executions and imprisonments of military officers.
In his recently launched autobiography, IBB acknowledged that Abiola won the June 12 election but shifted blame for its annulment onto his late colleague, General Sani Abacha.
Reacting to the book’s content, Odinkalu, in a series of posts on 𝕏, accused Babangida of deliberately waiting until all those he blamed had passed away before publishing the memoir.
Describing IBB as the “Grand Commander of the Order of Cowardice,” Odinkalu argued that the former military ruler portrayed himself as a victim while placing responsibility on the dead.
He wrote, “Ibrahim Babangida’s book is filled with allegations against dead men & women. He waited until they were all dead & none of them could controvert him & he portrays himself as a victim of all these dead men & women. This damns him even more than he already was as lacking in character.
“The only question that must be pursued by those interested must be how a man so devoid of character & values was allowed to travel so far in the military to the point where, for a generation, he could routinely pick & choose at his whim which soldier cld or shd rule #Nigeria.
“Conveniently, Babangida, a committed record-keeper, could not produce any contemporaneous records, minutes, notes or other evidence to corroborate any of the serious claims & allegations he makes about these dead men & women. All hail the Grand Commander of the Order of Cowardice!”
