- Mixed public reactions have followed Ibrahim Babangida’s autobiography, A Journey in Service, with some praising his national contributions, while others criticised its content
- Babangida openly acknowledged Moshood Abiola as the rightful winner of the 1993 election he annulled
- TheRadar compiled public reactions following the book lunch which also doubled as a fundraising event for Babangida’s presidential library
The launch of former military president Ibrahim Babangida’s autobiography, “A Journey in Service” on Thursday, February 19, has sparked reactions from the public.
While there were claims that the book was full of liars, others acknowledged Babangida’s significant contributions to national development, believing the book would enhance knowledge and bolster the country’s nation-building efforts.
Babangida openly acknowledged that Moshood Abiola, popularly known as MKO, won the 1993 election, which Babangida controversially annulled During the launch in Abuja.
The event also served as a fundraising occasion for the former president’s presidential library, with over N12 billion pledged in donations.
In his review of the autobiography, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo highlighted that Babangida dedicated an entire chapter to the transition to military rule and the controversial annulment of the June 12 election, widely regarded as one of the most credible and free elections in Nigeria’s democratic history.
There has been a range of mixed opinions from the public on the book, with both commendation and disapproval. TheRadar compiled some of the public reactions below:
Public reacts to Babangida's book
“General Babangida has said no truth, his book is filled with lies and blame game, if you call that truth, something is definitely wrong with truth,” Olu of Naija stated.
“Actions have consequences. Everyone should reap according to as his work has been. It is absurd to admit a national crime and receive ovation and billions of donations in return,” Wisdom reacted.
“What I can deduce from this excerpt about Kaduna Nzeogwu, although IBB is not the symbol of truth, is that few people (who may not truly be igbo or have the interest of the igbos at heart) have been using the fight against the marginalization of igbos to perpetuate evil that all igbos eventually pay for. Today, we have Uwazurike of MASSOB, and Nnamdi Kanu and Simon Ekpa of IPOB,” Finding Solace reacted.
“Lol, you want to know the truth about his administration by buying a book written by him. Nigerian intellectuals 😂,” Olanrewaju Olanipekun stated.
“It is safe to say that the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s book launch was such a tragic event and a gathering of people with no single sense of empathy and compassion for the souls of many Nigerians who sacrificed their lives in defense of the Nigerian democracy. How fast we murder our own people, how fast we forget 😢,” Mezie Abia stated.
“Babangida stands as undeniable proof that cruelty, wickedness, or moral corruption do not always lead to misery. One can embody darkness yet still bask in the finest luxuries life has to offer. The world does not always punish the villain; sometimes, it rewards him,” Maliq reacted.
“A very poignant and sad truth indeed. And the bible says , " woe to the people who call evil good" Smh,” King David Divine stated.
“A Journey in Service'? From Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida? Another reminder that Nigeria is a tragicomedy.
A vainglorious distortion of history, otherwise it should have been titled 'A Journey in Disservice'.
IBB can hardly have a superior in the roll call of Nigeria's most horrendous leaders. He was far more than the man who truncated Nigeria's freest and fairest election or the ruler under whose watch Dele Giwa, one of Nigeria's finest journalists, was parcel-bomb-assassinated. Babangida was also a terror who hunted journalists like petty thieves and common criminals.
Many journalists ended up in jail, some in exile, some in lifelessness, some in joblessness and others in guerilla practice, having to sneak out in daylight and nightimes for editorial meetings that were convened in some of the most unthinkable places, including garages. Apart from the newspapers he shut down (TheGuardian, Punch, Vanguard, Concord etc), others went out of business as advertisers seeking to not irk the government avoided them like plagues.
IBB's ruthlessness extended to rights defenders and even students, many of whom were repeatedly arrested and incarcerated, and for lengthy periods. The Evil Genius excelled in everything anti-public interest. His economic policies backfired spectacularly, and he was as corrupt as the rest of them.
Had the public not violently protested his annulment of the 1993 election, Babangida would have turned out another Paul Biya (Cameroon president from 1982 till date). Many Nigerians lost their lives in the protests that ousted Babangida from power; do not piss on their graves by entertaining any conversation about IBB's 'service'.
I hope that while he is still alive, IBB still has just one person in his circle who can remind him his was a life in disservice to Nigeria, or at best 'A Journey in Self-Service'!” Fisayo Soyombo stated.
“The problem of Nigeria 🇳🇬 are not their leaders. Rather, her citizens, who are suffering from short memory syndrome. They celebrate mediocrity, label freedom fighters, and sing the praises of criminals in power,” Barrister IykeObed stated.
“Babangida should go to jail to avoid setting a bad precedence. The annulment of the June 12 election is a punishable offense,” Ajiji MIT reacted.
“It is safe to say that the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s book launch was such a tragic event and a gathering of people with no single sense of empathy and compassion for the souls of many Nigerians who sacrificed their lives in defense of the Nigerian democracy. How fast we murder our own people, how fast we forget 😢,” Mezie Abia stated.
“Pursuing justice against IBB is a pointless vengeance. June 12 is a raw wound for many, no doubt. The pain still stings but honesty cuts both ways. The system’s rarely moved fast or bold enough to touch a man like him, then or now,” Bukola added.
“Punish someone that is still receiving donations to his library// truth doesn't prevail in Nigeria and the moment you side the truth your life is already threatened,” T.Oracles reacted.
“He did the whole country dirty including all the past leaders are evil except maybe a very few,” Prisca Nal reacted.
“why did the criminal, maradona IBB waited from 1982 til 2025 to make his after thought confession when all those involved in June election 1982 have died, why waited for so long time, he is one of the noted criminal ruler in Nigeria,” Emmanuel Iroulu reacted.
Nigeria worse off today than during IBB’s era – Peter Obi
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Peter Obi emphasised that Nigeria’s socio-economic situation was worse than during Ibrahim Babangida’s (IBB) military regime.
He noted that while other countries have advanced on the Human Development Index (HDI), Nigeria has stagnated or declined.