Abuja- Former Ogun State governor, Olusegun Osoba, has revealed that ex-military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), was held hostage by the same individuals who helped him overthrow General Muhammadu Buhari in 1985. Osoba disclosed this in an interview with ThisDay, shedding light on the internal struggles within Babangida’s regime.
IBB’s overthrow of Buhari was facilitated by key figures like the late Sani Abacha and Aliyu Gusau. Osoba claimed that Babangida confided in him and other journalists about his constrained position while in power.
Speaking on the matter, Osoba said, “Babangida told us he had no choice but to listen to his fellow coupists. He was essentially a hostage to those who put him in power, and if he didn’t comply with their demands, they could remove him instantly.”
Osoba further elaborated on the challenging environment for journalists under military rule, contrasting it with the freedoms enjoyed under civilian governments. He recounted an incident where he and other journalists, including Felix Peter, met with Babangida to candidly discuss the shortcomings of his government.
“We bluntly told him a lot of things that were wrong with him and his government. It was so devastating that Gen. Babangida admitted to us, ‘I am hostage to those who staged the coup and those who put me here,’” Osoba recalled.
Babangida acknowledged the limitations of his power, stating that absolute power was a myth and that his position was constantly under threat from his coup collaborators.
Osoba’s revelations provide a rare insight into the power dynamics and internal pressures faced by military leaders in Nigeria’s history, highlighting the complex interplay between those in power and their supporters.
