Former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) offered a poignant and heartfelt tribute to his longtime friend and colleague Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday, July 13, 2025, describing him as a “brother, friend, and patriot” in a detailed statement released from his Hilltop Mansion in Minna, Niger State.
The 84-year-old, who led Nigeria from August 27, 1985, to August 26, 1993, traced their enduring bond back to their formative years at the Nigerian Military Training College in Kaduna in 1962, where they trained as young officers alongside other future leaders. IBB recounted their shared military journey through the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970), Buhari’s brief but impactful military rule from 1983 to 1985, and their parallel paths in democratic governance, with IBB noting their occasional policy divergences, such as the 1985 coup that ousted Buhari.
The tribute, penned hours after Buhari died in a London clinic, emphasized their personal correspondence and mutual respect, despite public perceptions of rivalry. IBB praised Buhari’s disciplined approach to leadership, particularly his anti-corruption stance during his 2015-2023 presidency, though he acknowledged the unfulfilled promises like the full eradication of Boko Haram.
The statement has resonated with military veterans and northern elites, who see it as a rare show of solidarity, but some historians question its historical accuracy, given the political tensions of the 1980s. IBB concluded with prayers for Buhari’s soul and a call for Nigerians to honor his service, as preparations for the state funeral in Daura intensify.
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