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Senator Orji Uzor Kalu defends Ibrahim Babangida, arguing that Nigerians are unfair in their criticism of the former military leader. He urges Babangida to write a second book revealing more details about the annulled 1993 election and the military’s role. Kalu also highlights Babangida’s stance on the 1966 coup.

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has criticized the public’s reaction to former military leader Ibrahim Babangida’s recently published memoir, arguing that Nigerians have been unfair in their judgment.

Speaking during an interview on Politics Today, Kalu expressed his belief that Babangida’s book, A Journey in Service: An Autobiography of Ibrahim Babangida, does not fully capture the complexities surrounding key historical events, including the annulled 1993 presidential election. He noted that Babangida acknowledged MKO Abiola’s victory in the election but insisted there were other untold aspects of the story.

According to Kalu, Babangida faced significant internal and external pressures that influenced his decisions at the time. He hinted that certain military officers played key roles behind the scenes and suggested that the former leader should write a second book to provide a more detailed account of what transpired.

The senator also addressed Babangida’s comments on the 1966 coup, emphasizing that his remarks could help correct long-standing misconceptions about Igbo involvement. He urged more former military figures to speak up about the period, insisting that a more complete version of history is needed for Nigerians to fully understand past events.

Kalu concluded by reiterating that Babangida was in a difficult position during his tenure and that history should judge him fairly.