African Independence Leaders & Post-Colonial Figures Codexery

Ibrahim Babangida

First Premier of the Western Region of Nigeria and leading nationalist.

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Ibrahim Babangida

via Wikipedia: Obafemi Awolowo · see source

Ibrahim Babangida is a Nigerian general and politician who served as military president from 1985 to 1993 after orchestrating a coup against Muhammadu Buhari.[1] His years in power are considered one of the most controversial periods in Nigerian political history, with his regime estimated to have misappropriated at least 12 billion dollars.[2] Babangida was born on 17 August 1941 in Minna and joined the Nigerian Army on 10 December 1962.[3]

Last updated 2026-09-30 from the source article.

Life and work

He married Maryam King on 6 September 1969 while recovering from his wounds.[4] Babangida was a key participant in the coup of 1975 and crushed the 1976 coup that resulted in the assassination of General Murtala Mohammed.[5] Babangida annulled the 12 June 1993 presidential election, which showed Moshood Abiola winning by over 2.3 million votes, citing electoral irregularities.[6] The 1983 coup that ended the Second Republic was orchestrated primarily by Babangida, with financial assistance from his associate Moshood Abiola.[7]

What the cited sources add

The same BBC report noted that Babangida ruled for eight years until he was forced from power by popular protests after annulling elections described as the country's freest and fairest.[8] The Omoigui account states that Babangida developed intricate connections with civilian contacts in business, media, civil service, academia and religious circles over many years.[9] The BBC reported in 2025 that Babangida acknowledged that Abiola won the election and that the nation is entitled to expect his expression of regret.[10]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Ibrahim Babangida" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Nigerian Military Dictator Steps Down, Installs Interim Regime", Los Angeles Times, 27 August 1993; Ogundairo, "How IBB annulled the June 24, 1993 presidential election", The Guardian, 24 June 2020 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Ibrahim Babangida" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Salami, "The Prelude to Babangida Regime's Foreign Policy Initiatives", Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 5 March 2014, p. 81; Diamond, Larry; Kirk-Greene, Anthony; Oyeleye Oyediran (1997) Transition without End: Nigerian Politics and Civil Society Under Babangida, Vantage Publishers, .; Nsehe, "Who Were Africa's Richest Dictators?", 8 November 2011 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "Ibrahim Babangida" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Ibrahim Babangida 1941– Nigerian president and military officer"; Agbese, "Ibrahim Babangida: The Military, Politics and Power in Nigeria", Adonis & Abbey Publishers Ltd., 2012, p. 12; Agbese, "Ibrahim Babangida: The Military, Power and Politics", Adonis & Abbey Publishers, 2012, p. 12–13; Nnadozie, "I Pray Nigeria Never Fight Another Civil War — IBB", Independent, 23 December 2023; Agbese, "Ibrahim Babangida", 2012, p. 48–49 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Ibrahim Babangida" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Agbese, "Ibrahim Babangida: The Military, Politics and Power in Nigeria", 2012, p. 101; Agbese, "Ibrahim Babangida: The Military, Politics and Power in Nigeria", p. 102 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Ibrahim Babangida" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Ibrahim Babangida", www.mynigeria.com (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Ibrahim Babangida" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Agbese, "IBB at 80: A birthday tribute and his good leadership prescription", The Guardian, 20 August 2021; Ajani, "Why we annuled [sic] June 12 Presidential election – General Ibrahim Babangida", Vanguard, 8 June 2013 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Ibrahim Babangida" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "BABANGIDA, Gen Ibrahim Badamasi (rtd.)", Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation, 22 November 2016; Opejobi, "June 12: MKO Abiola funded 1985 coup that removed Buhari – Fani-Kayode alleges", Daily Post, 13 June 2021; "1983: Power seized in armed coup" (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  8. "Blow to Babangida's Nigeria bid", BBC News, 11 December 2006. facts only, no text reused. news.bbc.co.uk
  9. "Nigeria: Palace Coup of 1985 By Dr. Nowa Omoigui", www.waado.org. facts only, no text reused. web.archive.org
  10. Ewokor, "Ibrahim Babangida: Nigeria's ex-military leader admits regret over cancelled poll", BBC, 21 February 2025. facts only, no text reused. bbc.com

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Ibrahim Babangida (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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