Abdulsalami: In 1952, a soothsayer told us IBB would become head of state

Abdulsalami Abubakar, former military head of state, says a soothsayer predicted in 1952 that Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) would become Nigeria’s head of state.

IBB was Nigeria’s military ruler from 1985 to 1993. Abubakar served as head of state from 1998 to 1999 and midwifed the transition to civil rule programme.

Abubakar spoke on Thursday in Abuja during the launch of IBB’s memoir titled ‘A Journey In Service’.

The book launch took place alongside a fundraising for the IBB presidential library.

In his remarks, Abubakar said his relationship with Babangida dates back 80 years ago in Minna, Niger state.

Abubakar said he and Babangida were lured into the military by Yakubu Gowon, and that they aspired to attain the rank of captain before retiring.

As it turned out, they would go on to rule Africa’s most populous nation at different times, as generals.

“Let me go back memory lane. While we were growing up in the little town of Minna about 80 years ago, as far back as 1952, a soothsayer told us that IBB was going to be the head of state of this country,” Abubakar said.

“We never believed him. Then Captain Gowon, a young smart officer, lured us to join the military.

“When we joined the army, all our hope was to get to the rank of a captain and retire.

“God in his mercy propelled us to become generals and by the grace of God, both of us later became heads of state.”

Yakubu Gowon, former head of state; President Bola Tinubu; ex-President Goodluck Jonathan; former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, and former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, attended the event.

In 1999, Abubakar handed over power to democratically elected Olusegun Obasanjo — who was himself military president from 1976 to 1979.