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IBB is 84 today! The ‘Maradona’ who became president at 44 (PHOTOS)

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7 months ago

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Born August 17, 1941 in Minna, Nigeria, Ibrahim Babangida became Nigeria’s military president at 44 in 1985 after removing Muhammadu Buhari from office.

He rose through the ranks and was known for his courage—he played a major role in suppressing an attempted cøup in 1976 when he walked into a rëbel-held radio station unarmed.

After Murtala Mohammed became the military head of state in 1975, Babangida joined his Supreme Military Council. He played a significant role in the cøup that replaced the civilian government of Shehu Shagari with the military regime led by Muhammad Buhari. However, deep dissatisfaction with Buhari’s restrictive governance led Babangida to oust Buhari in August 1985.

Upon taking over, Babangida reduced the governmental control of the press and released a number of detainees from the former civilian government. However, he faced the same economic problems that Buhari had struggled with and the same domestic dissatisfaction. He came to an agreement with the International Monetary Fund and received new loans from the World Bank, but the resultant devaluation of the naira, the local currency, led to social unrest, which he addressed by dissolving part of the Nigeria Labour Congress and temporarily closing the universities.

Babangida announced early in 1986 that a civilian government would be formed by 1990, later extending the date by two years to allow more time for preparation. He decreed that no politician from the civilian regimes or office-holding military officials could stand as candidates. He allowed no political parties during the transition period and approved only two political parties when campaigning began – the National Republican Convention and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

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As a further move to show that he was firmly in control, Babangida dissolved the Armed Forces Ruling Council in favour of smaller bodies and dismissed many of his closest military colleagues. An attempted cøup in April 1990 led by Major Gideon Orkar was quickly contained. Babangida later announced that Nigeria had suspended its membership in the Islamic Conference Organization amid speculation among southern Nigerians that he was trying to make the country Islamic. The long-planned transfer of the federal capital from Lagos to Abuja, a location in central Nigeria, was completed under Babangida in 1991.

The fulfillment of Babangida’s pledge of a return to civilian government seemed imminent when a presidential election was finally held in 1993. Initial results indicated that businessman Moshood Abiola, the SDP candidate, was the apparent winner, but, before the official results were announced, Babangida annulled the election—a decision which proved to be controversial and unpopular. In the wake of the civil unrest that ensued, he handed control of the country over to an interim civilian panel headed by businessman Ernest Shonekan and stepped down from government. In 2025 Babangida expressed his regret over the annulment of the election.

On the regional stage, Babangida was instrumental in changing the orientation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Although it had been strictly an economic body, Babangida succeeded in having ECOWAS use ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) troops to restore stability in Liberia after civil war erupted in that country.

Credit: Babangida’s memoir, A Journey in Service: An Autobiography, was released in 2025.

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Lifestyle

Bianca Ojukwu Blasts Critics Who Attacked Her For Attending UK Royal Banquet

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6 hours ago

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March 22, 2026

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The reaction followed the circulation of photos showing her at the high-profile event, where she appeared in a formal setting among international guests.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, has fired back at a social media user who criticized her for attending a royal banquet in the United Kingdom.

The reaction followed the circulation of photos showing her at the high-profile event, where she appeared in a formal setting among international guests.

The images sparked mixed reactions online, with some users questioning her presence and bringing up her late husband, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

A critic, Onu Chris, accused her of bringing down her husband’s legacy and made a remark about how he would feel.

“If shamelessness was a person. You’ve watered down all that Ojukwu worked for. I can’t imagine his feelings right now in the underworld”, he wrote.

In response, Bianca dismissed the comment and replied that there was no point imagining such, adding that the person could visit the “underworld” to find out.

“No point imagining… Hopefully you can visit that underworld soon so you can get a better idea 🫠”, she replied.

She also responded to another user who mocked her.

The user, @JAguenu wrote, “Any where belle face”.

Ojukwu replied: “Not my fault your own distended belle is facing towards kwashiokor 🫠”

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Concerns Grow As Popular Gospel Singer, Wunmi Awoniyi Solicits Public Support, Prayer

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6 hours ago

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March 22, 2026

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The singer in a post shared late Saturday night, solicited support from the general public.

Fans and colleagues of Nigerian gospel singer and prophetess Wunmi Awoniyi have raised concerns following a recent post shared on her official social media page.

The singer in a post shared late Saturday night, solicited support from the general public.

The post, which was shared along with her picture, did not

disclose what exactly is wrong with the singer, but noted that she really needs support.

“Her name is prophetess Wunmi Awoniyi. People know her as Gbogomifunmi. Please, she really needs our prayers now”, the post said.

Reacting to the post, her fans and colleagues in the industry, including singer Alewilese, actress, Funmi Awelewa, among others, took to social media to pray and send her words of encouragement

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‘You Leave Problem For Nigeria Go Greet ‘Big Men’ In UK’ – Charly Boy Knocks Tinubu

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1 day ago

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March 21, 2026

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Maverick entertainer, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his recent trip to the United Kingdom, accusing him of focusing on foreign engagements while challenges persist at home.

The outspoken activist also faulted the multi-billion-dollar agreement reportedly signed between Nigeria and the British government, questioning its relevance amid the country’s pressing socio-economic realities.

It was reports that in a post shared on Friday via his 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) handle, written in Pidgin English, Charly Boy expressed dismay over the President’s overseas engagement.

“My people, make we yarn truth without sugarcoating. Bola Ahmed Tinubu waka go UK go greet big men, but for house, fire still dey burn. Na who dey deceive who? You leave problem for ground, carry full convoy go snap picture for palace,” he wrote.

He argued that while officials often justify such trips as necessary for strengthening diplomatic ties and sealing agreements, the realities on ground in Nigeria tell a different story.

The entertainer cast doubt on the effectiveness of international agreements in the face of unresolved domestic challenges such as insecurity, erratic power supply, and widespread economic hardship.

“Dem go say na to build relationship, sign agreement, do big big talk. But abeg, if light never stable, security never sure, and people dey cry, which agreement wan first work?” he queried.

Charly Boy also took a swipe at the size of the Nigerian delegation on the trip, describing it as excessive and symbolic of misplaced priorities.

“Even worse, na full squad dem carry go. Governors, ministers, everybody wan show face. E come be like say governance don turn group excursion,” he added.

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Highlighting the continued security challenges in parts of the country, he pointed specifically to the North-East, where residents still grapple with insurgency and humanitarian crises.

“Meanwhile for places like Borno State, people still dey face serious wahala. But our oga dey smile for international camera. Life no be Instagram filter,” he said.

The veteran entertainer concluded by urging the government to prioritise fixing internal issues before seeking validation abroad.

“If your house clean, you no go need go outside go beg for validation. Your people go stand gidigba for you.

“But when ground no balance, even golden handshake go feel like empty promise. Nigeria, open your eye well. This film we dey watch, na rerun,” he added.

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