Adebayo Adeolu, author of “Sani Abacha: Nigeria’s Most Powerful Defence Minister and Head of State,” has revealed an insight into the relationship between two of Nigeria’s most influential military figures, Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha.
Speaking during an interview on the Edmund Obilo Show, Adeolu disclosed that long before either man rose to power, Babangida had cautioned Abacha about the dangers of attracting too much attention within the military hierarchy.
“Babangida had warned Abacha that they should both keep a low profile; if they showed themselves too much in the army, they will probably get retired,” Adeolu said.
According to the author, this advice reflected the tense and competitive nature of Nigeria’s military environment at the time, where ambition and visibility could easily be mistaken for disloyalty. Adeolu explained that both men were aware of the risks of standing out in a system where senior officers often viewed rising stars as threats.
He noted that Abacha and Babangida shared a close professional bond, and their calculated discretion helped them survive multiple coups and political purges that consumed many of their contemporaries. “They understood the system and knew when to move quietly,” Adeolu added.
Adeolu further observed that the two generals’ cautious approach eventually paid off, allowing them to steadily climb the military ladder. Babangida became Head of State in 1985 after ousting General Muhammadu Buhari, while Abacha later assumed power in 1993 following the collapse of the Interim National Government. Read Original