Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari skipped Ibrahim Babangida’s book launch, reviving old tensions from the 1985 coup that overthrew him. The event, attended by top leaders, highlighted Buhari’s refusal to engage with IBB. His absence fueled speculation that their decades-old rift remains unresolved.
Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari was notably absent from the public launch of A Journey in Service, the memoir of former military ruler Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB). The high-profile event, held at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, drew an array of past and present Nigerian leaders, including President Bola Tinubu, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, as well as ex-military heads of state Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Buhari, however, sent only a goodwill message, reigniting speculation about the longstanding rift between the two military generals. Their history dates back to the August 1985 coup, when Babangida, then a Major General, ousted Buhari’s government, leading to Buhari’s prolonged detention in Benin City until 1988.
The absence of physical contact between the two former leaders has persisted over the years. Even during his presidential campaigns in Minna, Niger State, in 2015 and 2019, Buhari conspicuously avoided the customary political courtesy visit to Babangida. Many observers believe his refusal to engage with IBB underscores lingering resentment over the events of 1985.
Political analysts suggest that Buhari’s decision to stay away from the book launch was a deliberate move to maintain his longstanding distance from Babangida. Public reactions on social media reflected a mix of amusement and criticism, with some commenters highlighting Buhari’s perceived reluctance to forgive.
