IBB’s autobiography: A lesson for present, future leaders on leadership responsibility

By Ifa Destiny

The launched autobiography of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (A Journey In Service) was supposed to be a revelation, an honest reflection on the life and times of one of Nigeria’s most enigmatic leaders.

Instead, it turned out to be another carefully curated narrative, avoiding deep introspection, dodging accountability, and leaving crucial questions about Nigeria’s history unanswered.

For present and future leaders, this book is a stark reminder of how leadership, when not taken seriously, can leave a nation struggling with its past and uncertain about its future.

Leadership is not about controlling the narrative after leaving power; it is about making bold decisions in office, taking responsibility, and ensuring that history will remember you as a statesman rather than a ruler who merely occupies space.

Evasion: A dangerous leadership trait

One of the greatest disappointments of Babangida’s book is his failure to properly address key controversial moments during his rule.

The annulment of the June 12, 1993, election—an event that shook Nigeria’s democracy to its core—is mentioned without real depth or accountability. Instead of using this platform to explain his motivations or offer a clear perspective on why he took such a drastic decision, he dances around the issue, leaving Nigerians with the same old unanswered questions.

This is a dangerous precedent for current and aspiring leaders. Leadership is not about avoiding hard conversations. A true leader faces criticism head-on, accepts mistakes, and learns from them.

Those in power today must understand that their actions will not be forgotten, and history will judge them whether they choose to speak or remain silent because power is transient, and we shall all be remembered one day, either for good or for bad.

Leadership without accountability leads to stagnation.

Nigeria remains trapped in cycles of corruption, economic instability, and poor governance because our leaders often refuse to take responsibility for their actions.

Babangida’s refusal to acknowledge the deeper implications of his policies, including the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP), mirrors the behavior of many leaders today who pass the blame while the country suffers.

Current and future leaders must understand that real leadership is about accountability. A leader must be bold enough to admit failures and courageous enough to fix them.

The continuous deterioration of our economy, educational system, and security sector is not because Nigeria lacks resources or talent—it is because we have leaders who, like Babangida, often fail to take ownership of their decisions.

The Business of Leadership is Serious Business.

Nigeria is not a playground for experimental leadership. Every decision a leader makes affects millions of lives, either positively or negatively.

Unfortunately, Babangida’s book reads like a lesson in how to lead without consequences, a guide on how to escape responsibility rather than embrace it. This should serve as a warning to those currently in power: history will not be kind to those who treat governance as a game.

If Nigeria must grow, its leaders must approach governance as a business—a serious one. This means:
• Long-term vision rather than short-term political gains.
• Transparent decision-making rather than secretive governance.
• Courage to do what is right rather than what is politically convenient.

Conclusion: The future will remember.

Babangida had a chance to set the record straight with his autobiography, but he chose the safer route. That is his choice, but future leaders must choose differently. Nigeria needs leaders who are not afraid of the truth, leaders who will build a nation where history is not rewritten to protect personal legacies but recorded with honesty for the sake of national progress.

The lesson from A Journey In Service is clear: Leadership is a serious business. Those who take it lightly will be remembered not for their achievements but for their failures. The choice is now left to the leaders of today and tomorrow—how do you want history to remember you?