Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has criticized Nigerians for what he describes as unfair treatment of former military president Ibrahim Babangida following the release of his memoir, A Journey in Service: An Autobiography.
The 420-page book, which acknowledges that MKO Abiola won the annulled 1993 presidential election, has sparked widespread debate. Critics argue that Babangida’s admission came too late, reigniting discussions on one of Nigeria’s most controversial political decisions.
Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television program, Kalu, who represents Abia North in the Senate, defended Babangida’s decision to reveal long-held truths, urging him to go further in a second book.
“I think Nigerians are very unfair to Babangida because he came out on his own,” Kalu said. “There is more to the story. Some officers told Babangida he could not hand over to Abiola. More military personnel should speak up.”
Kalu emphasized that Babangida’s memoir made significant revelations, particularly about the 1966 military coup, which has long been mischaracterized as an Igbo-led plot. He commended the former leader for setting the record straight and called for other key military figures to break their silence.
“There should be a second part of the book. Babangida was in danger throughout that period, and the way he left power shows that something was wrong,” Kalu added.
He praised Babangida’s efforts to promote national healing, arguing that the revelations in his memoir were aimed at fostering unity rather than reopening old wounds.
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