Babangida held captive by those who aided in Buhari’s overthrow – Osoba

Osoba: A former Governor Olusegun Osoba of Ogun State has alleged that former military leader, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), was essentially held hostage by those who assisted in the coup that overthrew General Muhammadu Buhari. Babangida led the coup against Buhari in 1985, with key figures such as the late Sani Abacha and Aliyu Gusau involved in the power shift.

Osoba recounted that Babangida had involved him and other journalists during his tenure, highlighting the precarious nature of his leadership.

In an interview with ThisDay, Osoba revealed that Babangida expressed his lack of freedom, stating he had to heed the demands of his fellow coup plotters. “Even under military rule, we managed to produce credible newspapers,” Osoba noted, contrasting it with the current civilian administration.

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He recalled a pivotal meeting with Babangida, where he and other journalists candidly addressed the issues within his regime. Babangida responded by acknowledging his vulnerability: “I am a hostage to those who staged the coup and placed me in power. If I don’t comply with their wishes, they could oust me in an instant. There are no absolute powers.”
Osoba emphasised that, despite the challenges, they conveyed honest truths behind closed doors, which led to a mutual understanding during their reporting.

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