Too Dangerous To Ignore!” – IBB Reveals Chilling Reason Behind Buhari’s 1985 Ouster

Babangida made this disclosure in his autobiography, A Journey In Service, launched in Abuja on Thursday.

At the time of the coup, Babangida served as Chief of Army Staff under Buhari, who had earlier toppled Shehu Shagari’s civilian government in the December 31, 1983, military takeover. However, as time passed, Babangida grew increasingly discontent with Buhari’s leadership, describing his policies as oppressive and detrimental to national unity.

Reflecting on his ascent to power, Babangida recalled his journey from Minna to Lagos on August 27, 1985, stating that by the beginning of that year, the country was already experiencing heightened tensions, making a change in leadership inevitable.

He explained: “On that day, I found myself assuming national leadership on behalf of the Nigerian armed forces. The need for change had become apparent due to the deteriorating national mood and growing concerns about our future. As I traveled from Minna to Lagos, I deeply pondered how Nigeria arrived at such a critical juncture and why fate had placed me in this position.”

According to Babangida, by early 1985, Nigerians were increasingly anxious about the country’s future, and the political atmosphere had become precarious. He noted that the armed forces, initially united by their 1983 coup mission, had become divided, risking an internal split that could destabilize the entire nation.

He further emphasized: “The rescue mission of 1983 had gone off course, and we now faced the possibility of the military imploding. If that happened, the country itself would be in peril, and the consequences were too terrifying to consider. Something had to be done to prevent a complete collapse.”