The health of Nigeria’s only military president, Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, rtd, is not getting any better – and this is authoritative.
IBB, like the former dictator is widely known, has been going in and out of hospitals – since exiting power unceremoniously and following his annulment of the June 12, 1992 election believed to have been won by Chief M.K.O Abiola.
Initially said to be battling radiculopathy, the man hardly moves unaided these days. ‘The last Council of States meeting he attended in Abuja, under Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, he had a walking stick and also moved with so much difficulty. On Sunday, April 30, 2017 when three former Heads of State – Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdusalami Abubakar and himself met at his Hilltop mansion in Minna, Niger State, he also couldn’t move unaided, even when it was time for photographs.
‘I don’t know how true this is, but I heard that ideally the meeting should have held at Obasanjo’s home, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, as the most senior, but IBB’s failing health made them settle for Minna.’
Visibly ematiated, IBB, YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine also learnt, rarely attends events these days – and except when it is very, very necessary.
‘His wife, Maryam’s death, no doubt, must have also affected his health in no small measures. I mean, he was looking and doing better when Maryam was alive. Another thing I want to believe may have also contributed, though indirectly, are his eldest children, Mohammed and Aisha’s failed marriages. No father will be happy about that. Coupled with old age’.
Born on August 17, 1941, IBB ruled between August 27, 1985 and August 26, 1993.