Former military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, popularly known as IBB, has said wealthy civilians have historically helped support and fund military coups in Nigeria.
IBB made the assertion in an interview on Badeggi 90.1 FM in Minna, Niger State, as part of events to celebrate his 85th birthday.
He said: “No successful coup in Nigeria’s history has ever happened without the involvement of civilians.”
The former military leader also talked about the events around the 1985 plan to remove his government and the later killing of Mamman Vatsa, who was the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, at that time.
IBB noted that Vatsa, who he described as a schoolmate and someone he was close to, first said he was not part of the plan.
He said at first he couldn’t believe the accusations connecting Vatsa to the plan because they had been friends for a long time.
IBB explained that he called Vatsa and Mohammed Gado Nasko into his office because a high-ranking military officer told him that the two men were linked to the plot.
“When they arrived, I asked them about the reports that they had been mentioned in a plot to topple my government. Both of them denied any involvement.
“While General Gado Nasko was cleared of any wrongdoing, the panel found evidence linking Vatsa to the coup plot,” IBB said.
He said he was “shocked, devastated and deeply disappointed” when Vatsa’s alleged involvement was established.
“There was nothing I could do to exonerate him from the consequences prescribed by military law. My hands were tied. That was how I lost my brother, General Mamman Vatsa,” he added.