Former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), has defended the execution of his childhood friend, General Mamman Vatsa, over an alleged coup plot, asserting that his decision was necessary for Nigeria’s stability. However, Vatsa’s family has condemned the act, demanding restitution.
Babangida made these revelations in his autobiography, A Journey of Service, launched on February 20, 2025. In the book’s tenth chapter, The Challenges of Leadership, he detailed how intelligence reports first flagged Vatsa’s alleged coup plans as mere “rumors.”
Initially skeptical, Babangida consulted senior military officers, including Generals Nasko, Garba Duba, and Wushishi. However, covert investigations eventually uncovered what he described as “incontrovertible evidence” of Vatsa’s involvement in a conspiracy to overthrow the government.
“With our experience in government and the benefit of hindsight, I determined that the best way to address the rumors was by confronting the principal suspects,” Babangida wrote. “When the volume of the allegations became overwhelming, I directly asked Vatsa, but he denied any involvement. However, intelligence operations continued, leading to his arrest and trial.”
According to Babangida, investigations revealed that Vatsa had provided financial backing to officers involved in the plot, including Lt-Col. Musa Bitiyong, who allegedly received N50,000. While Vatsa claimed the money was for a farming project, the tribunal deemed his explanation unconvincing.
The plot reportedly included plans to bomb Eko Bridge in Lagos, sabotage Air Force assets, and hijack or shoot down the presidential aircraft. Babangida described the scheme as “dastardly” and expressed personal anguish over Vatsa’s betrayal, given their decades-long friendship.
Once the military tribunal completed its review, Babangida said, “it was clear that the coup planners had to be executed.”
Vatsa and nine other officers were executed in March 1986. “They had planned a bloody coup that would have plunged the country into chaos,” Babangida wrote. “I had to choose between saving a friend’s life and securing Nigeria’s future.”
He acknowledged the emotional toll of the decision, stating, “Of course, Vatsa’s death was a personal loss. As a human being, I was somewhat depressed watching him die under such circumstances. However, national stability and the cohesion of the armed forces took precedence.”
Vatsa’s Family Demands Justice
Reacting to Babangida’s justification, a family member of the late Vatsa, Jonathan, denounced the execution as unjust. He argued that Vatsa was denied the right to a fair appeal.
“My stance has always been that he was killed unjustly,” Jonathan said. “Before he could even file an appeal, they announced his execution an hour earlier. Why the rush to execute an innocent man?”
He further accused Babangida of targeting Vatsa because he was seen as a threat to his administration. “If he had been alive, they wouldn’t have been able to accomplish the things they did,” Jonathan claimed.
Beyond an apology, Jonathan called on Babangida to make restitution. “He should return everything he took from Nigerians that was not rightfully his—whether money, property, or any other asset—so that his atonement will appear genuine before Nigerians.”
Abiola’s Family Reacts to IBB’s June 12 Admission
At the book launch, Babangida also addressed the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, acknowledging for the first time that the Social Democratic Party’s candidate, Moshood Abiola, had won. He blamed the annulment on forces led by General Sani Abacha and expressed regret over his inability to prevent it.
“I remember saying, ‘These nefarious inside forces opposed to the elections have outflanked me!’” Babangida wrote. He explained that while the annulment undermined the will of Nigerians, he feared Abiola’s assassination could trigger another civil war.
Reacting to his admission, Abiola’s daughter, Hafsat Abiola-Costello, stated that while Babangida’s acknowledgment was significant, it did not erase the pain inflicted on her family and Nigerians.
“For decades, Nigerians have known the truth,” she said. “It is important that history records it from those who played a role in that dark chapter.”
She emphasized that the June 12 election symbolized more than just her father’s mandate. “MKO was the face of Hope ‘93, but June 12 was about the collective aspirations of Nigerians for a better future.”
Human rights activist and President of the Centre for Change, Dr. Joe Odumakin, also criticized Babangida’s attempt to justify the annulment, calling his explanations contradictory.
“In one breath, he takes responsibility for annulling June 12; in another, he shifts blame to Abacha,” Odumakin said. “It is ridiculous that Babangida would accuse a dead man who cannot defend himself.”
The autobiography has reignited debates on Babangida’s legacy, with critics and supporters offering differing views on his leadership decisions.
