Today, September 14, would have marked his 83rd birthday.

Today, September 14, would have marked his 83rd birthday.

Many still believe that in 1984 during Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, it was Tunde Idiagbon that was actually the man behind the wheel.

Born on this day, 14 September 1943 in Ilorin, in present-day Kwara State, here are some quick facts about him:

FULL NAME: Major-General Babatunde Abdulbaki Idiagbon.

MILITARY CAREER: He joined the Nigerian Army as an officer cadet in 1962 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1965. He later rose to the rank of Major-General.

CIVIL WÃR VETERAN: Idiagbon fought on the federal side during the Nigerian Civil Wãr (1967–1970) and held several battlefield commands.

GOVERNOR OF BORNO: From 1978 to 1979, he served as the military administrator of Borno State under General Olusegun Obasanjo’s military government.

BUHARI’S SECOND-IN-COMMAND: After the 31 December 1983 coup, General Muhammadu Buhari became Head of State and Idiagbon became Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, effectively the regime’s second-in-command.

THE FACE OF THE GOVERNMENT: Idiagbon was highly visible in the Buhari regime and personally announced and implemented many of its major policies.

WÃR AGAINST INDISCIPLINE: He was one of the principal figures behind the famous Wãr Against Indiscipline (WAI) campaign, which promoted punctuality, orderliness, cleanliness and obedience to rules.

KNOWN FOR TOUGHNESS: He developed a reputation as a strict, disciplined and no-nonsense officer, making him one of the most memorable figures of Nigeria’s military era.

EDUCATED ABROAD: His military education included the Pakistan Military Academy, Command and Staff College in Quetta, Pakistan, and an International Defence Management Course at the Naval Postgraduate School in the United States.

HE WAS OVERTHROWN IN 1985: On 27 August 1985, Ibrahim Babangida and other officers overthrew the Buhari–Idiagbon government. Idiagbon was removed from office and detained.

HE SPENT ABOUT 40 MONTHS IN DETENTION: A biographical archive records that he was detained from August 1985 until his release in December 1988.

HE DÏED RELATIVELY YOUNG: Idiagbon dïed in Ilorin on 24 March 1999, aged 55.

FAMILY: He married Biodun Idiagbon in 1970, and they had five children—two sons and three daughters.

A LASTING REPUTATION: More than four decades after his rise to national prominence, Idiagbon remains particularly remembered for his discipline, austerity, War Against Indiscipline and dominant role in the Buhari military government of 1983–1985.

ONE STRIKING FACT: Idiagbon’s birthday was 14 September 1943, while his death came on 24 March 1999—meaning he never reached his 56th birthday.

Today, September 14, would have marked his 83rd birthday.