Remarks by Abacha’s grandson on Babangida sparks reactions in Kano

The recent revelation by former Military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida in his book, ‘Journey In Service,’ has continued to trigger mixed reactions in northern Nigeria, as grandson of the late General Sani Abacha has described Babangida as a coward.

Raees Abacha, who is one of grandsons of the late Nigerian dictator, Abacha, in a series of posts on his X handle, branded Babangida “a coward who owed his survival to his grandfather.”

Raees, in one of the posts, stated that “My Grandfather saved the life of a coward,” dismissing Babangida’s claims in the released book, where he attributed the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election to forces led by General Abacha.

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Babangida had described Abacha as his “biggest headache,” yet, according to Raees, still retained him as the chief enforcer in Chief Ernest Shonekan’s transitional government.

Raees argued that if their lifespans had been reversed, Abacha would never have exhibited the “treachery” Babangida allegedly displayed.

He noted what was contradictions in Babangida’s narrative, questioning how the former leader could claim to have been unaware of the annulment while simultaneously taking responsibility for it.

The grandson of the late dictator further ridiculed Babangida’s reluctance to assign blame in his memoir, warning that anyone who takes the book as the ultimate truth is “following its author toward damnation.”

Concluding his fiery remarks, Raees asserted that Babangida’s greatest enemy was neither Abacha nor external forces, but his own mind—a mind that earned him the infamous nickname “Evil Genius.”

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Babangida’s book was also a topic on discussions in several radio and television stations in the city of Kano, where late Sani Abacha comes from.

In one of the radio stations, Coolfm 96.5, in their morning show ‘altars’ on Monday, several of the listeners who sent in messages during the programme, believed Babangida was economical with the truth in the role of Abacha in the annulment of the June 12, election which Babangida in his submission said that late MKO Abiola won.