In a candid disclosure from his newly launched autobiography, A Journey in Service, former military president Ibrahim Babangida has shed light on Nigeria’s controversial involvement with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) during his regime. Babangida explained that the move was a strategic effort to boost Nigeria’s international influence rather than an outright bid to join the organization as a full member.
According to Babangida, the administration had sent an observer delegation to the OIC—a decision that was misinterpreted by the public as full membership. “I had unilaterally and clandestinely smuggled Nigeria into full membership of the OIC,” he remarked, acknowledging that his actions fueled speculation about a possible northern Islamic agenda. He further clarified that the delegation was also intended to honor Nigeria’s founding figures, such as Sir Ahmadu Bello, who played a pivotal role in the establishment of the organization.
The former leader recalled that the controversy ignited a national crisis in 1986, nearly setting the nation ablaze with dissent. Babangida detailed how “lethal rumour traffic” even cost some senior officials their positions. To contain the fallout and protect national unity, his administration opted to let the issue subside naturally, subsequently establishing an interfaith agency aimed at fostering mutual trust between Nigeria’s dominant religious groups.
Babangida’s revelations provide a rare glimpse into the complexities of Nigeria’s foreign policy during a turbulent period and highlight the delicate balance between strategic international positioning and domestic religious sensitivities.
Newspot Nigeria
