Buhari Keeps Away From IBB Book Launch

 Immediate past president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari again avoided physical contact with former Nigeria’s military president, Ibrahim Babangida, otherwise called IBB, during the public presentation of his memoir, ‘A Journey In Service.’

The autobiography of the former military president took place at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja and was attended by President Bola Tinubu, former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, ex-Military Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalami Abubakar, former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar, Yemi Osinbajo and Namadi Sambo among others.

Buhari was, however, absent but sent a message of goodwill. His absence, however, highlighted old grievances between the two top military generals from the North following the military coup that was led by IBB, then Major General, who overthrew him in 1985.

The coup that occurred on 27 August 1985 led to the detention of Buhari in Benin City until 1988, well after his mother’s death.

The two generals have not attended an event together or crossed paths since the coup, which many said is due to Buhari’s unwillingness to forget the past.

During all the presidential campaigns in Minna, Niger State, in the lead-up to the 2015 and 2019 elections, which Buhari won, he did not pay IBB the customary courtesy homage that Nigerian politicians are wont to do during such occasions.