The Babangida legacy in perspective

BY CHIECHEFULAM IKEBUIRO

Few Nigerian leaders have sparked as much debate as General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. His tenure was defined by bold economic reforms, institutional restructuring, and political upheavals that continue to influence our trajectory as a nation. To some, he remains a visionary who sought to modernise Nigeria; to others, a calculating leader whose political manoeuvres left lasting scars. Regardless of perspective, his impact is indelible.

Though too young to fully comprehend his era at the time, I grew up in a Nigeria shaped by his policies. Later, as I studied the nation’s history, Babangida emerged as a leader who recognised the unsustainability of Nigeria’s economic path and attempted bold corrective measures. His Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) was particularly significant.

It was an ambitious effort to recalibrate the economy by devaluing the overvalued Naira, boosting exports, reducing import dependency, and attracting foreign investment. His policies sought to eliminate subsidies and correct economic imbalances-a vision that, ironically, we are now beginning to fully embrace. In hindsight, many of these reforms were forward-thinking

Yet, for all his economic foresight, Babangida’s legacy remains deeply contentious. Two events, in particular, overshadow his achievements: the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election and the assassination of Dele Giwa.

The June 12 election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest, was won by Chief MKO Abiola, only to be abruptly nullified by Babangida’s regime. This decision not only derailed Nigeria’s democratic progress but also cemented his reputation as an autocrat unwilling to relinquish power. Decades later, the wound remains unhealed.

Equally damning is the unsolved murder of Dele Giwa, the fearless Newswatch editor killed by a parcel bomb. The brazenness of the attack and the lack of accountability cast a long shadow over his tenure. As Mr Segun Adeniyi aptly noted, “A single action can define a life.” These incidents are what many Nigerians remember most about Babangida, and understandably so.

In his memoir, A Journey in Service, General Babangida expressed regret over June 12, lamenting his failure to heed the maxim: Fiat Justitia Ruat Caelum—“Let justice be done, though the heavens fall.” Yet, his reflections stopped short of full accountability. Rather than accepting responsibility, he shifted blame to Abiola’s allies, the political class, General Sani Abacha and everyone else, while casting himself as a leader merely trying to avert “another civil war”.

This defensiveness and Babangida’s reluctance to take full ownership of his actions have only deepened scepticism and left many questioning his true motives. Indeed, had he let justice prevail, the heavens would not have fallen.

Still, his administration was not without merit. He established pivotal institutions like the National Electoral Commission (NEC), the National Planning Commission (NPC), and the Code of Conduct Bureau — frameworks intended to promote accountability and governance discipline. His policies also laid the groundwork for economic liberalization and infrastructural development, even if their implementation left very much to be desired.

Today, Nigeria is retracing some of the steps Babangida attempted to take decades ago, particularly in economic policy. The removal of subsidies and efforts toward a market-driven economy are reminiscent of the policies he championed. Had we stayed the course back then, we just might not be grappling with some of the economic challenges we face today.

In the end, Babangida’s legacy is one of paradox: a leader who championed progress yet undermined it, who envisioned a self-sufficient Nigeria but faltered at critical junctures. History will remember June 12 and Dele Giwa, but it must also reckon with his economic foresight.

The question is whether we will learn from both his triumphs and his failures.

Chiechefulam Ikebuiro can be contacted via [email protected]