A Look Back: What you Don’t Know About The Babangida Palace Coup of August 27, 1985
A palace coup involves a sudden, forceful change of government executed by high-ranking officials within the existing regime. Historically, such coups involve one faction of a ruling elite displacing another while the general populace watches. This article examines the August 1985 coup in Nigeria, where Major General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), then the Chief of Army Staff and third in the Supreme Military Council (SMC), ousted Head of State Major General Muhammadu Buhari.
Background
In June 1983, 23-year-old Second Lieutenant P. Odoba graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy and was stationed at the Brigade of Guards in Lagos. On December 31, 1983, while serving as the duty officer at the Federal Radio Corporation in Lagos, Odoba was informed by Lt. Col. Sabo Aliyu, the Acting Commander of the Brigade of Guards, to expect armored vehicles and soldiers for an ‘exercise’ and not to resist. This was a prelude to the coup that deposed President Shehu Shagari.
Brigadier Sani Abacha, Commander of the 9th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, delivered the speech that ended Shagari’s presidency, ushering in Buhari’s regime. Buhari’s government, claiming to continue the ideals of the Murtala-Obasanjo administration, purged the upper echelons of the military, including all Major Generals and some lower-ranking officers. Buhari’s administration also launched a “War against Indiscipline” (WAI), targeting everything from environmental cleanliness to corruption and disloyalty.
The Buhari government, known for its severe measures, attempted a controversial operation to abduct exiled former Transportation Minister Alhaji Umaru Dikko from London in July 1984. This failed operation led to a diplomatic row, with aircraft seizures and high commissioner withdrawals.
The Coup
On August 26/27, 1985, during Id-el-Kabir celebrations, Lt. Odoba, now a full lieutenant, was again stationed at the FRCN Radio station. He received instructions to not resist an approaching military ‘exercise.’ Colonel Joshua Nimyel Dogonyaro arrived and soon announced the overthrow of Buhari’s regime on the radio. Later that day, Brigadier Sani Abacha confirmed Major General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida as the new Head of State and Commander-in-Chief. Babangida, who had returned from a supposed vacation in Minna, took the title of ‘President.’
The position of Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters was abolished, and Navy Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe was appointed Chief of General Staff, effectively diminishing the direct influence of service chiefs over the new CGS.
Motivations Behind the Coup
As with many coups, the justifications presented were designed to resonate with the public. The official narrative criticized Buhari and his deputy Major General Tunde Idiagbon for their dictatorial style, human rights abuses, suppression of political organizations, and repressive laws. However, the real issue was a clash of personalities and differing agendas among military officers and civilians involved in the 1983 coup.
Buhari’s isolation from the military was gradual, partly due to his focus on political issues and religious fervor, which allowed officers to be strategically placed in key positions for future actions. Babangida, who had been cultivating relationships within the military and civilian sectors for years, had positioned himself for this eventual power shift.
Key Figures and Their Roles
The coup of August 27, 1985, involved numerous military personnel across various ranks and responsibilities. Brigadier Jeremiah Timbut Useni was a notable player in the coup, while key supporters of the Buhari regime included Major General Muhammadu Buhari, Major General Tunde Idiagbon, Major General Mohammed Magoro, Alhaji Rafindadi, Lt. Col. Sabo Aliyu, and Major Mustapha Haruna Jokolo. Key figures whose loyalty was questionable and who were neutralized included Brigadier Salihu Ibrahim and the Commanding Officer of the Recce Battalion in Jos.
