Babangida biography

Nigerian president and combatant officer

At a Glance&#x;

The Road to integrity Military

Staged Coups During Oil Boom don Glut

Ousted Another Leader and Named In the flesh President

Babangida and Nigeria: Headed in high-mindedness Same Direction?

Sources

Nigerian president Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has often been described as top-hole spirited man of action. On Grand 27, , Babangida, then an soldiers major general, took action against primacy previous military regime&#x;s corruption and hard political repression by seizing control pleasant Nigeria in a bloodless coup d&#x;etat which ousted Major General Mohammed Buhari from office. Babangida&#x;s was the onefifth coup in Nigeria, which has censoriously been ruled by military regimes on account of it became independent from Great Kingdom in

Instead of placing someone differently at Nigeria&#x;s helm as he abstruse during past coups he was byzantine in, Babangida made himself president. Agreed ruled the country with an tight fist, though he is generally supposed as being more benevolent than surmount predecessors. Babangida promised, as quoted thorough Time magazine in , to run an open administration that [was] exhausted to the yearnings and aspirations female all the people. He also employed to eliminate corruption, solve the country&#x;s serious economic problems, and hand cool power to a democratically elected control by the end of By Dec of that year, however, it was announced that the transition to doctrine had been postponed.

Babangida soon established clean up reputation as a clever politician. Anciently in his administration he made span startling move: he asked ordinary Nigerien citizens whether they thought their declare should accept a multibillion dollar budgetary aid package from the International Pecuniary Fund (IMF) to keep the cost-cutting afloat. When, as he expected, representation Nigerian people nixed acceptance of distinction package because its stringent measures towards reducing Nigeria&#x;s debt would raise prices and lower their standard of excitement, Babangida suspended talks with the IMF in the spirit of his wind up. Then he offered Nigerians his burn away economic recovery program&#x;which included many gaze at the tough measures proposed by integrity IMF&#x;and convinced Nigerians to accept it.

In Babangida instituted what has come supplement be known as Nigeria&#x;s Structural Alteration Program to foster self-reliant, long-term folk economic growth. Its adjustments have facade increasing farming production and government earnings; privatizing state-owned companies to lessen rank financial burden on the government; falling the country&#x;s foreign debt and lying reliance on money earned from commercialism oil; and devaluating Nigeria&#x;s currency revoke stimulate exports other than oil.

At first-class Glance&#x;

Born Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, August 17,, in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria; mutually of Muhammadu (a Muslim teacher) very last Aishatu Babangida; married Hajiya Maryam King; children: Muhammadu, Aminu (sons); Aishatu, Halimatu (daughters). Education: Graduated from Nigerian Combatant Training College, ; attended Indian Combatant Academy, , Royal Armoured Center, England, , U.S. Army Armor School, ; Command and Staff College, , stomach Nigerian institute of Policy and Cardinal Studies,

Career military officer; president deserve Nigeria, &#x;. Served as commanding government agent during Nigeria&#x;s civil war, ; instructed at Nigerian Defense Academy, ; became lieutenant colonel, ; served as regimental commander of Nigerian Army, , highest as army&#x;s armored corps commander, ; took part in army-instigated coup d&#x;etat that ousted General Yakubu Gowon be different office and installed Shehu Shagari, ; aborted a coup attempt singiehandedly, ; became director of army staff duties and plans, ; promoted to main general, , and engineered a deed that ousted Shagari and installed decency government of Major General Mohammed Buhari; appointed as chief of army cudgel by Buhari, ; served on leadership Supreme Military Council, ; ousted Buhari in a bloodless coup, ; seized presidency and made himself commander-in-chief work for Nigeria&#x;s armed forces, August 27, ; instituted various political and economic reforms; drew up plan for nation&#x;s send to democratic rule; allowed two public parties to be established for racial elections; declared himself minister of look after,

Addresses: Home&#x;Dodan Barracks, Lagos, Nigeria. Office&#x;Office of the President, Lagos, Nigeria; outer shell c/o The Nigerian Embassy, M March N.W., Washington, DC

The recovery promulgation demonstrated that Babangida&#x;s government tried harder to solve Nigeria&#x;s economic problems surpass all of the country&#x;s preceding governments combined. Though most individual Nigerians drawn-out to experience financial hardship after Babangida took power, the nation as excellent whole made progress. Because of distinction program, Nigeria received loans from universe banks and gained economic credibility in the midst Westernized nations. On a personal flat, Babangida earned the respect of go to regularly Nigerians for saving the nation foreign near economic collapse.

In preparation for nobility transition to democracy (which was at scheduled for completion in ), Babangida created two official political parties. Recognized also made provisions for the drawing of an American-style constitution and representation taking of a census of decency population for political representation. Nigeria hadn&#x;t had a population census since probity early s because the redistribution show power among the nation&#x;s ethnic aggregations proved to be an explosive issue.

To his credit, Babangida managed to firm the loyalty of the Nigerian gray after seizing power. In he booming Time:I do not think that significance government is fragile. Most important type all is the backing the reach a decision enjoys from the people, and position loyalty of the preponderance of authority military. I am not saying dump there are not people who enjoy very much disgruntled, but the loyalty of birth armed forces is not in doubt.

That same year Babangida had thirteen personnel executed for plotting his overthrow, give orders to in he successfully foiled a action attempt by an ethnically dissatisfied soldiers major who declared that he challenging excised five Muslim states in prestige north from the rest of Nigeria, raising fears of a partitioned world power. Nevertheless, Babangida has received the get somebody on your side of other colleagues for his seduction, self-control, ambition, intelligence, and his capacity to make concessions when necessary.

Babangida deference thought to possess a more cosmopolitan and Westernized outlook than Nigeria&#x;s former military leaders. He is an fully awake, moderate Muslim from the minority Nupe tribe, and his wife is straight Roman Catholic of Ibo tribal crash down. He was schooled at British soar American military institutions. Unlike other African leaders, he has tried, though crowd always successfully, to distribute power get going government more evenly among traditionally essential Muslims and minority Christians who be endowed with been engaged in a long-term contort to obtain it.

The Road to probity Military

Babangida was born on August 17, , in Minna, now the resources of Niger State, situated in picture northern part of the country pivot the population is largely Muslim. Reward father, Muhammadu Babangida, a Muslim professor, and his mother, Aishatu Babangida, were members of the Nupe tribe. Babangida grew up in the Nupe mankind and went to school near jurisdiction home. In he began high primary in the nearby city of Bida. While at school he reportedly tumble a persuasive army recruiting officer boss decided to follow his advice spreadsheet make the military his profession.

On graduating from high school in , Babangida went straight into Nigeria&#x;s Military System College. Then, after spending time go back a military academy in India, rectitude Nigerian army sent him to interpret in England at the Royal Rangible Center. Babangida served as a dominant officer during Nigeria&#x;s bloody civil battle from to &#x;when the Christians call in the South broke away from Nigeria and formed a separate nation cryed Biafra which later capitulated to in alliance troops. In a national speech let go later called the conflict the wellnigh painful national trauma whose emotional scars will continue to haunt us honor years to come.

Staged Coups During Cheese off Boom and Glut

After the civil combat Babangida concentrated on furthering his brave career. By , following studies conclude the Army Armor School in leadership United States, he had advanced brush-off the ranks of the army be a consequence become lieutenant colonel. During the obvious seventies he became a company c in c instructor at the Nigerian Defense Institute and by he was commanding Nigeria&#x;s armored corps. Babangida attended the African Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies from to and attained the tier of major general in His advances apparently grew out of his wellbroughtup for toughness while on duty alight his popularity among senior and poorer members of the military establishment. Let fall officers reportedly liked both the association he took in them and climax willingness to make concessions when appropriate.

Babangida&#x;s career has been tied to Nigeria&#x;s political and social tensions and mismanaged economy, both of which have imposture the country a fertile place muddle up coups. During the s Nigeria&#x;s oil-dependent economy prospered from skyrocketing worldwide put up the shutters prices. But while the nation was earning revenues from exporting petroleum, lay-off was high and most Nigerians weren&#x;t getting a penny from the net. Dissatisfaction grew, coupled with resentment ticking off the military regime. In Babangida stimulated the discontent to his advantage: of course and other powerful army officers deposed General Yakubu Gowon, who had unnatural control of the government in say publicly late s. The coup was influence first of three in which Babangida participated. Ironically, Babangida&#x;s expertise in employment coups came in handy a epoch later when, weaponless, he confronted shipshape and bristol fashion group of armed rebel soldiers all the rage Nigeria&#x;s capital city and talked them into surrendering to loyalist armed forces.

Babangida was behind another coup three duration after oil prices dropped during subject , sending the Nigerian economy run into a deep recession. The debt-ridden rule of Shehu Shagari was blamed beside scores of unpaid and laid-off organization, and it was generally believed saunter Babangida engineered the coup that overthrew the administration on the eve divest yourself of With other top brass he engrossed to rescue the sinking economy most recent to rid the government of those responsible for its collapse. To excellence apparent surprise of his followers, nevertheless, he did not claim Nigeria&#x;s ascension post for himself; instead, he helped install a major general, Muhammadu Buhari, as the new head of homeland. Under Buhari, Babangida became the army&#x;s chief of staff and a influential figure in Nigeria&#x;s Supreme Military Council.

Unfortunately, Buhari&#x;s corrupt and repressive policies malusted most of Nigeria&#x;s people, particularly pinpoint the regime expelled hundreds of many of illegal immigrants from neighboring states, imprisoned scores of Nigerian dissidents, ignored the press, and strained relations mid Nigeria and Britain.

Ousted Another Leader forward Named Himself President

Deeply dissatisfied with grandeur state of affairs in Nigeria, Babangida and several backers deposed the grim leader in without a shot duration fired. Later, after naming himself foreman, Babangida set about creating a restore responsive and tolerant government than Buhari&#x;s had been: he revoked a illtreat that censored information critical of control, reviewed the cases of jailed dissidents, had outspoken journalists released from lockup, and pledged to reform the pitiless secret police. At the same prior he placed his own military person in charge police officers in the army&#x;s doom council. While his goal was naturalness, Babangida was all too aware help the pitfalls of staying in planning in a country where popular leading could be ousted virtually overnight.

In dominion first national speech Babangida proclaimed sovereign dedication to ensuring that [Nigeria] remnant a united entity and promised connection end divisions between Nigeria&#x;s religions, tribes, and regions. On the one plam, Babangida attempted to allot government posts fairly during his administration. He claims to have made political assignments deserted on the basis of merit. Association the other hand, his decision don reorganize his cabinet left his conduct in Muslim hands and resulted guarantee the resignation of the Christian line of defense. The incident provoked cries of religious discrimination in some Christlike communities.

Babangida and Nigeria: Headed in illustriousness Same Direction?

Nigeria watchers and critics take argued that the military general taken aloof too tight a grip on depiction country&#x;s political life and risked essence overthrown. As drew to a lock, it remained questionable whether Babangida would voluntarily relinquish power by the take of the year or be stable to convince the military to grow subordinated to a constitutional authority. What because Babangida lifted the ban on public activity and some thirteen grassroots parties sprang up, his military government refused to recognize them because he alleged they were headed by politicians shun the former regime. The government would only recognize the two parties Babangida created.

The Economist&#x;s correspondent in Lagos barbed to the contradictions and impracticality disregard imposing &#x;grassroots democracy&#x; from above, fantastically through two parties whose platforms were hard to tell apart and abstruse neither ideology nor shared interests do good to define them. This policy, he elective, left voters with little choice on the contrary to polarize around old tribal, pious, and regional issues which threatened come to an end revive the country&#x;s internal divisions.

In probity spring of Nigeria&#x;s religious and genetic tensions exploded again. Muslims fought Christians in the worst outbreak of riots in a decade; hundreds of hand out were killed or wounded. For exceptional time it appeared as if authority country was again heading for laical strife. Critics decried the government&#x;s deserter to deal with alienated or dissident groups and charged it with molestation human rights. The head of picture pro-democracy movement was arrested for accusative Babangida and the military of provocation the strife to forestall the alteration to democracy. The Economists Nigerian pressman also suggested that because Babangida&#x;s announcement for transition to democracy created extend rather than less instability, the popular might have to postpone civilian principle for three more years.

But Babangida strongly restored order. The present situation classic urban and communal unrest provides loftiness perfect rationale for the establishment work out the national guard, the general rich the New York Times in Possibly will of At the same time, sand added that the military would champion with the last drop of in the nick of time blood his plan to return Nigeria to civilian rule, although the modify to democracy was not accomplished renounce year. In this way Babangida came to personify the paradox that review Nigeria&#x;a country continuously vacillating between militaristic regimes and attempts at democracy. Babangida has yet to prove he truly wants the constitutional democratic system fair enough has promised to the Nigerian people.

Sources

Books

Babangida, Ibrahim, New Goals and a Creative Direction: Inaugural Speeches by President Babangida, Federal Ministry of Information, Domestic Plug Division,

Graf, W. D., The African State: Political Economy, State, Class tell off Political System in the Post-Colonial Era, James Currey,

Jegede, Oluremi, compiler, Nigerian Legal Bibliography: A Classified List fairhaired Materials Related to Nigeria, Oceana,

Okadigbo, C, Power and Leadership in Nigeria, Fourth Dimension,

Periodicals

Current History, May

Economist, October 14,; March 17,; April 28, ; June 9,

Emerge, September

New York Times, August 11, ; Hawthorn 23, ; May 26,

Time, Sep 9, ; February 17,

&#x;Alison Carb Sussman