Ibrahim Shuaibu
9 June 2008
Kano — The late military Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, did not loot the national treasury contrary to the general impression, two military former heads of state have said.
Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, who ruled Nigeria between 1983 and 1985, and his successor, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, gave Abacha the clean bill in Kano yesterday after the rememberance prayers marking 10 years of the death of Abacha, who ruled between 1993 and 1998.
Abacha was accused of stealing nearly £5 billion while in office, out of which over $1 billion has reportedly been recovered from various sources around the world.
But Babangida, who described Abacha as a "courageous, loyal and honest military head of state who stood for the unity and development of the country during his years in government", has dismissed the allegations.
He said the looting allegations against Abacha were unfounded and baseless, stressing that "it is not true that he looted public treasury. I knew who Abacha was because I was close to him".
Babangida said: "Abacha was a courageous person who stood firmly in handling the affairs of the country during his regime."
He added that the regime of Abacha brought positive changes in the country which should have been emulated.
He said 10 years after the death of Abacha, his contributions to the nation's economy remain indelible.
"There is no doubt, during his administration as head of state, Abacha contributed his best to the nation's economy which we are still enjoying," he said.
Babangida's new position however contrasts with what he told Newswatch magazine in July 2000.
He had said: "The revelations [on Abacha's loot] surprised me. I am surprised, because I didn't know."
He had also explained that Abacha's death brought "relative stability", adding that "it gives us, oh well, let's see, there is hope after all".
Babangida, in that interview, also blamed the society for allowing Abacha to grow into the dictator he became.
"I feel bad that society failed to realise that they have a duty to protect whatever values they hold dear to their hearts as far as this country is concerned. At any rate, there are people I like and do respect those who stood against the regime, who are not military officers but civilians who are able to speak out. They didn't mince words and if their views had been heard, he wouldn't have [done enough harm]," he had said in response to a question.
Buhari, in his own comments yesterday, described the allegations of looting against Abacha as "baseless", because according to him, "ten years after Abacha, those allegations remain unproven because of lack of facts".
While also commenting, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who took over when Abacha died on June 8, 1998, commended his predecessor for initiating Vision 2010, saying that the economic vision of the present administration termed Vision 2020 is a replica of Abacha's 2010 initiative.
Abubakar also tasked Nigerian politicians to concentrate on how best to contribute to national development instead wasting time and money investigating their predecessors, adding that probing past administrations "does not yield anything positive to the nation and should be discouraged".
Babangida also spoke on the probe of his government by the immediate past administration, saying: "We are still waiting for the outcome of the probe."
The three former leaders sat close to one another during the special prayer session which started exactly 10am and lasted for over one hour at an open compound belonging to the family of the former head of state.
The prayer session was attended by former Abacha's aides, Emirs of Hadejia, Gumel, Jema'a and Chief Fredrick Fasehun of Odua Peoples Congress (OPC).
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So from whose account or from what sources was the 1 billion pounds 'reportedly' recovered?
Nigerians have been blindfolded by their greed for money as a result has lost their revolutionary abilities. Like it or not the crop of Chuma Nzegwu, Buka Zuka Dimka, Joe Garba and Michael Imodu are gone. Otherwise this outlandish and faceless comment made by IBB and Buhari could have turned out Nigerians in thousands on the street demanding justices.
The people of former Eastern Nigeria should now see how the chess is being played out. IBB and Buhari all from the North have told you so brazenly that after all Abacha did not steal enough and should not be prosecuted… [Read Full Text]
Of course we know he stole just like all other presidents before and after him.The both of you coming out to try to create the impression in our minds that he did,nt steal are some of the worst thieves that have ever come out of nigeria,most especially babangida.It will do us a world of good to see you guys prosecuted and jailed because you,re not better than, and even worse than the armed robbers your failed policies helped create.The world knows that this man and his cohorts including your very selves are thieves, so don,t labour yourselves on something… [Read Full Text]
Typical of nigerian thieves (our-so call leaders),They are sheep during the day,wolves at night,Babangina could frost in the mouth now,to defend Abacha, where was he when demonic obasanjo was busy chasing after Abacha's family for all their looting of nigeria treasury, he was busy safe guarding his own lootings.The bottom-line is NIGER-DELTANS guard your treasures very well,after the cabal of looters with their cohorts in the south had finish with your heritage they would run away to saudi arabia to go and enjoy it while your children unborn are left with nothing.FIGHT AND FIGHT NOW!!!! there is no tommorow for… [Read Full Text]
Coward died many time before their natural death is the best way to discribe both military head of state. Babangida is a forgotten issue but for Buhari who wanted to rule again is so shameful to say that in the very week Swiss brought part f his loots. These men should be disregard from any comment to vital national issue because they are bias and parochail.
Coward died many time before their natural death is the best way to discribe both military head of state. Babangida is a forgotten issue but for Buhari who wanted to rule again is so shameful to say that in the very week Swiss brought part f his loots. These men should be disregard from any comment to vital national issue because they are bias and parochail.
Barry
well, what do expect from these men? birds of thesame feather, flock together. i am usually, G.C
See all comments (17).
You will know them by thier fruit. In 1965,Killing,arson and mayhem ravaged the western nigeria and the then prime minister Abubakar was asked by the visiting OAU delegates if there is problem and Abubakar denied of any problem.There was state of emmergency in western nigeria.
1983 Buhari told the whole world that every political parties did everything to rig election and he did nothing to bring the culprit to justice and in 2003 Buhari was asking the supreme court for justice because the "election" was rigged.The whole world knew who rigged and who did not rig
1985 august… [Read Full Text]