By Dan Amasingha,Minna.

Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd.), has broken his silence on one of the most painful episodes of his military career, saying he could not save his childhood friend and fellow soldier, the late General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, after an investigation linked him to the 1985 coup plot against his administration.

Babangida made the disclosure during a special programme on Badeggi 90.

1 FM Radio in Minna as part of activities marking his 85th birthday. The programme was monitored in the Niger State capital.

The former military ruler said the allegations against Vatsa initially appeared unbelievable because of their extraordinary shared history.

According to him, he and Vatsa grew up together, attended the same school, graduated in the same year and joined the military at the same time.

“When I first heard the rumours that General Mamman Vatsa was involved in a plot to overthrow my administration, I could not believe it,” Babangida said.

He recalled that after receiving the allegations from a senior military officer, he summoned Vatsa and another senior officer, General Mohammed Gado Nasko, to his office for explanations.

Both men, he said, denied any involvement in the alleged plot.

Babangida, however, said the matter subsequently moved beyond personal assurances when a military commission of inquiry was constituted to investigate the allegations.

While Nasko was cleared, the former military president said the panel found evidence connecting Vatsa to the aborted coup.

The finding, he admitted, left him devastated.

“When it was finally confirmed that investigations revealed General Vatsa’s involvement in the aborted coup, I was shocked, devastated and deeply disappointed,” he said.

Babangida added: “There was nothing I could do to exonerate him from the consequences prescribed by military law. My hands were tied. That was how I lost my brother, General Mamman Vatsa.”

On the involvement of  Civilians in Military coups,The former military president also offered a broader assessment of Nigeria’s history of military interventions, arguing that successful coups in the country had never been purely military affairs.

He alleged that wealthy civilians had, at various times, played significant roles in financing or supporting military takeovers.

Babangida also spoke warmly about the late businessman and politician, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, whom he described as a close personal friend whose generosity cut across ethnic, religious and regional boundaries.

He said Abiola deployed his wealth to improve the lives of Nigerians regardless of their background.

“Chief MKO Abiola was a man who used his God-given wealth to positively impact the lives of Nigerians irrespective of their background,” he said, describing the late businessman as exceptionally generous and a man who built friendships across the country.

Speaking On one of the most controversial decisions of his administration, the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election—Babangida described the decision as one of the most difficult choices of his military career.

The election, widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s freest and fairest, was won by Abiola, but its result was annulled by the military government.

Babangida said the decision was taken collectively and was considered, at the time, to be in the overall interest of the country.

“I must say that it was one of the toughest decisions taken during my military career, but it was made in what we believed was the best interest of the nation,” he stated.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s current economic and security challenges, the former military president urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the country.

He called on citizens to continue supporting the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, expressing optimism that the government’s ongoing efforts would eventually produce positive results.

Babangida also appealed to traditional rulers and religious leaders to place national interest above sectional considerations and intensify their efforts toward strengthening Nigeria’s unity, peace and development.

His comments come as Nigerians prepare to mark the 85th birthday of the former military president, whose years in power remain among the most consequential and contested in Nigeria’s political history.

General Babangida’s 85th birthday celebration is scheduled for Monday, August 17, 2026, with special prayers expected at his Uphill residence in Minna, Niger State.

By David Torough, Abuja

The Federal Government has inaugurated a new Board of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), charging its members to promote fair remuneration, higher productivity and industrial harmony in Nigeria.

Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja on Friday, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, described the event as significant, coming at a critical stage of Nigeria’s economic transformation under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Akume said the administration was implementing far-reaching reforms aimed at restoring economic stability, improving workers’ welfare, strengthening productivity and laying the foundation for sustainable and inclusive growth.

He said the NSIWC had a strategic role to play because its responsibilities cover salary structures, productivity, job evaluation and compensation matters, all of which have direct implications for workers’ welfare, industrial relations and government finances.

According to him, the new Board must strike a balance between fair and decent remuneration, improved productivity, affordability and the wider economic realities confronting the country.

He noted that the inauguration came at an important time following the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage framework, which has raised expectations among workers while increasing responsibilities for government and employers.

The SGF urged the Board to ensure that its recommendations are evidence-based, transparent, timely, equitable and fiscally responsible, supported by reliable data on wages, productivity, purchasing power and economic growth.

He also called for the promotion of a remuneration system that recognises skills, responsibility, innovation and productivity, while encouraging efficiency and accountability.
Akume stressed the need to strengthen the Commission’s digital and data capabilities and position it as a centre of excellence in compensation and productivity.

President Tinubu appointed Major General Junaid Bindawa (Rtd.) as Chairman of the new Board, alongside nine other members. Former Lagos member of the House of Representatives, Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas, was appointed Secretary of the Commission.

Other members include Dr. Ogbole Ene Lilian, Oladele Olatubosun and Yakubu Umar Barde, representing Benue, Oyo and Kaduna states respectively.

Dr. Mai Adamu Yau of Borno State, Ginika Florence Tor of Enugu State, Engineer Lawrence Okoh of Edo State, and Bello Moronke Iyabode of Kogi State were also appointed members.
Akume congratulated the chairman and members and urged them to justify the confidence reposed in them by providing “visionary, responsible and results-oriented leadership.”

In his acceptance speech, Bindawa thanked President Tinubu for the confidence placed in the new Board, assuring that its members would promote constructive engagement and work harmoniously with organised labour.

He acknowledged the weight of the Board’s responsibilities, particularly its mandate over salaries, wages, incomes and productivity, which he described as critical to workers’ welfare and the delivery of quality public services.

The new Board is expected to play a key role in shaping remuneration and productivity policies as the Federal Government continues to implement its economic reform agenda.

By Julius Tambaya, Abuja

Chief Leo Edochie, Nigeria’s number one celebrity golfer turned heads with a jaw-dropping appearance at The Shire Course, one of the iconic golf destinations in the United Kingdom.

It was all glitz and glamour as Edochie and a handful of his friends played an invitational at the prestigious course in the last weekend of July.

The Shire London is uniquely different in a number of ways. Unlike other conventional golf courses, it has six par threes, six par fours and six par fives. There are no two consecutive holes of the same par on this Course that prides itself as being “warm, unpretentious and friendly”.

As the only golf course in the United Kingdom designed by the legendary Seve Ballesteros, its signature feature is the Hole 18 with an S-shaped lake which is described as “one of the country’s most demanding closing holes”.

If the topic is golf, Chief Edochie will raise no eyebrows if you refer to him as an addict or fanatic. And that explains why his steadily-expanding, feel-good golf itinerary took him to The Shire London where he shone brightly, not necessarily by the number of birdies he returned but the significance of his message.

“It was a fantastic experience to play in such a high-profile course,” he says. “Though I had a solid round, it was not all about me. It’s about showing those kids in Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kaduna or Lagos that The Shire is not out of their reach.

“Yes, I am honoured to be adored as Nigeria’s celebrity golfer but my real goal is to inspire the next generation of golfers and enhance women’s participation in the sport in our country. If my round here in London makes one person to pick up golf, then I’m as excited as hitting an eagle on a difficult hole”.

But without a doubt, Leo brought swag and aura to the invitational at The Shire. His intimidating physique, bright apparels and trademark two-tone golf shoes were unmistakable on the fairways and left onlookers in awe. “Oh, that’s a lovely shot,” Edochie gleefully yelled after nicely scooping the ball from a greenside bunker.

The Celebrity golfer, who is also , a consummate professional and wealthy entrepreneur, playing golf is no more a hobby, it is an obsession spurred by a huge appetite to unlock the sport’s untapped potentials and provide the platform for nurturing future champions.

That explains why he continues to generate headlines for readily reaching his fat wallet to promote the game as well as offer substantial charitable contributions.

In no distant time, he will be hosting Celebrity Golfer Leo Edochie Charity Golf tournament which fits into his persona. True to his long-standing reputation for giving back to humanity, the proceeds from the event will be dedicated to charity.

The surge in celebrity participation in golf by Nigerians today reflects Leo’s impact, enhanced more by his leveraging the social media to share his experiences on and off the fairways as a way to promote the sport.

Yet, he has a new dream. He has expressed a burning desire to introduce Nigerians to the experience of watching golf tournaments live, replicating the spectator culture common in the developed countries and in the PGA events. Such fan engagement, according to Edochie, “will change the perception of golf, boost tourism and bring in more people into the game.”

As Chairman of Python Golf Club Open tournament, this former president of Port Harcourt Polo Club plans to use the next golf tournament in November to pilot the initiative of creating the spectator atmosphere.

According to Leo, “I’m deeply excited when I see other people following in my footsteps, not only by the way they dress but by also recording and airing their games.

“My next goal is to bring Nigerians to watch golf tournaments live, just like they watch football games. The merits are so much that we can’t afford to miss out on the foreseeable opportunities.”

However, the Shire experience did not obscure the primary reason of Chief Edochie’s London visit- proud father and mother were attending the graduation of their last son in the company of their other children and friends. All his 3 kids graduated from the same university of Reading in England.

Coming soon for the celebrity golfer is golf entrepreneurship and merchandising.
The golf community eagerly anticipates.