“Military Rule Better Than Civilian Governments, Says IBB”
Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has defended military incursions into Nigeria’s governance, arguing that military governments were more successful in implementing development projects than their civilian counterparts.
In extracts from his controversial autobiography, A Journey in Service, IBB elaborated on the historical context of the five military coups in Nigeria between 1966 and 1985. While acknowledging that military takeovers are illegal under Nigeria’s constitution, he emphasized that these coups were often a response to the political failures of civilian governments.
Babangida writes that military interventions are sometimes necessary when civilian leadership fails to deliver. He argued that military rulers, driven by patriotism, sought to address the structural challenges facing the country, including issues related to national unity and state creation.
The former leader recounted how the military’s intervention in the 1966 coup, led by young officers like Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, was initially seen as a solution to the political chaos of the First Republic. He suggested that while military rule was not ideal, it emerged from the systemic failures of the civilian administration, which had allowed corruption and political unrest to fester.
In the autobiography, IBB also highlighted some of the military’s accomplishments, including the creation of states and the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) under General Yakubu Gowon. He suggested that these initiatives, as well as infrastructure projects and educational reforms, laid the groundwork for Nigeria’s development.
While he does not advocate for the return of military rule, Babangida argued that the military’s contributions to Nigeria’s growth should not be forgotten. He stressed that the best way to prevent future coups is for civilian governments to focus on transparent, accountable governance that prioritizes the welfare of the people.
Babangida’s reflections on the military’s role in Nigeria’s history offer a complex view of the country’s political evolution, recognizing both the successes and failures of military rule in shaping the nation’s development.
