Why Nigeria joined Organisation of Islamic Countries during my regime – Babangida

Ibrahim Babangida, former military president has revealed that Nigeria’s involvement with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) during his administration was a strategic move to enhance the country’s international influence.

This disclosure was made in his newly launched autobiography, A Journey in Service, which was unveiled in Abuja Thursday. Babangida clarified that it was never his intention for Nigeria to become a full member of the OIC.

Babangida explained that this decision which was highly controversial and sparked significant public outrage in 1986 came at a time when his government was trying to restore ties with Isreal after the OAU unanimously decided to break diplomatic relations with Israel. He said
there remained substantial Israeli business interests in Nigeria.

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“As part of our strategy of being present at every forum that would enhance our international leverage, we sent an observer delegation to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). This was miscommunicated to the public as an indication that Nigeria, under my watch, had become a full member of the OIC. As it were, I had unilaterally and clandestinely smuggled Nigeria into full membership of the OIC, thus confirming the speculation that I probably had a northern Islamic agenda”, he said.

He further explained that the observer delegation was also intended to consolidate the pioneering role of some of Nigeria’s founding fathers, like Sir Ahmadu Bello, in founding the body.

Babangida admitted that the controversy surrounding Nigeria’s OIC affiliation was one of the most challenging crises his administration faced, nearly setting the nation ablaze.

To navigate the controversy, he said his administration opted to carefully side-step it and allowed it to die a natural death.

Babangida further disclosed that the “lethal rumour traffic” unfotunately cost some very senior administration officials their high positions.

“The government could not sit idly by as mischief makers eroded national unity and interfaith understanding”, he said.

He further said it taught him a lesson about the sensitivity of religion in the nation’s polity, and subsequently, guided the government in balancing participation in government affairs between the two dominant faiths.

The former military president added that it even led to establishing an interfaith agency of representatives of both religions to enhance mutual trust and understanding.

“That ensured we never again witnessed any other major national misunderstanding
based on faith”, he added.