Ibrahim Babangida Celebrates 74th Birthday

Former Nigerian Military head of state, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) turned 74 today.

In an interactive session with journalists in Minna, Niger State, which took place a few days ago, he reminisces about his time in government, and expresses gratitude to God for sparing his life.

Read excerpts from the interview published in Vanguard:

V: How do you feel celebrating your 74th birthday, given that several attempts were made against your life while you were in service?

IBB: I will continue to be grateful to God and it strengthens my belief that no matter what happens, if God doesn’t will it, nothing will happen to me.

So it is a matter of believing that no matter what happens, either good or bad, nothing happens without the approval of Allah.
I am grateful to God for sparing my life up to this time despite what we went through. Those who participated in combat will say the same. God has kept me and I remain grateful to Him and grateful to you all for your support.

V: One of the major challenges your administration faced was the Gideon Okar coup where people thought death had finally gotten you. How did you escape?
IBB: I can remember very well that I had some loyal officers who were supposed to be my protectors and my body guard. Initially they told me to leave but I told them no, I am not leaving anywhere but they remained steadfast and later I took my family outside Dodan Barracks and I joined my guards. So we went out of Dodan Barracks and we went to a safe house where we got in contact with loyal troops. May God bless Sani Abacha.  Sani Abacha was the chief of army staff. He got in touch with me, I got in touch with him and we sat down and talked on what we were going to do. Abacha and I rallied the loyal troops and then I left my safe house and joined Abacha in his house.  That was how I escaped.
Read the entire interview on Vanguard