Former military Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar revealed how a soothsayer predicted the emergence of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) as Nigeria’s leader.
He recounted that the prediction was made in 1952, 33 years before IBB assumed the presidency.
Abubakar spoke on Thursday in Abuja at the launch of IBB’s memoir, A Journey in Service.
Reflecting on the prediction in front of the audience, Abdulsalami, a neighbour of IBB in Minna, reminisced about their childhood. “While we were growing up in the small town of Minna about 80 years ago, as far back as 1952, a soothsayer told us that IBB would become the head of state of this country.
“We never believed him. Then Captain Gowon, a young, capable officer, encouraged us to join the military, and when we enlisted, all we aspired to was to reach the rank of captain and retire.
“By God’s grace, we became generals, and eventually, both of us held the position of head of state. Not a moment goes by when we recall our adventures that don’t bring smiles to our faces,” he said.
