Today makes it exactly 41 years ago that Ibrahim Babangida became Nigeria’s military ruler after an overthrow of the Muhammadu Buhari regime which took power in 1983.

Today makes it exactly 41 years ago that Ibrahim Babangida became Nigeria’s military ruler after an overthrow of the Muhammadu Buhari regime which took power in 1983.

Today makes it exactly 41 years ago that Ibrahim Babangida became Nigeria’s military ruler after an overthrow of the Muhammadu Buhari regime which took power in 1983.

The photo below was the very first picture used by New Nigerian newspaper to announce him as President

Here is how New Nigerian newspaper reported the news:

NIGERIA’S new Head of State as well as President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces is Major General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.

An announcement to this effect was made yesterday afternoon by Major-General Sanni Abacha, the Commander of the 2nd Mechanised Division of the Army.

The announcement came while a closed door meeting of the new military hierarchy was still going at the Army Directorate of Armour, Bonny Camp. Lagos.

General Babangida was Chief of Army Staff under the deposed Major-General Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

A part of the speech read by Major-General Abacha reads on the day read:

FELLOW Nigerians, I Major General Sanni Abacha on behalf of my colleagues in the Armed Forces, I once more find it necessary to address the nation on very crucial national issues. The armed forces of this country, has now decided to have a change in the leadership of this nation

It is now abundantly clear after precisely 20 months on the stewardship of this country, that the past leadership lacked the capacity and the capability of leading this nation out of its economic and social predicament.

If you could all recollect in my maiden speech on the morning of 31st December, 1983, while ushering in the military administration, I enumerated the circumstances that necessitated the armed forces into taking the reins of the administration of this nation

It is more disheartening that most of the economic and social ills that plagued this nation during the civilian administration are still prevalent in our society.

HIGHLIGHTS:

👉Major-General Muhammadu Buhari removed as Head of State.

👉Supreme Military Council (SMC) dissolved.

👉Federal Executive Council (FEC) dissolved.

👉National Council of State (NCS) dissolved.

👉All borders and ports closed.

👉All airports closed.

👉All external communications cut off.

👉Military commanders to maintain law and order in the states.

👉Dawn to dusk curfew imposed in all states.