Former military president General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.) says there would have been a coup in Nigeria if the result of the June 12 presidential election was announced.
Babangida stated this in an interview with Arise Television on Friday.
Popularly known as IBB, the former military leader said the coup would have been bloody and destabilised Nigeria.
Babangida annulled the June 12 presidential election in 1993 which Moshood Abiola was believed to have won.
“If we had allowed June 12 to happen it would have caused violence.
“If not that we used maradonic way, there would have been coup, a bloody coup that would have given room for instability,” he said.
Babangida recalled sacking an unnamed governor during his regime for misappropriating N313,000, an amount which could in the present times described as paltry.
“You can’t compare it with the facts on the ground now. From what I read, from the analyses, I think we are saints when compared to what is happening under a democratic dispensation. I sacked a governor of a state for misappropriating less than N313,000,” he said.
“Today, billions are there on the streets. Those who have stolen billions, they are in court and are now parading themselves in the streets. So, who is better in fighting corruption?”
