Summary of the Autobiography: A Journey in Service:

"A Journey in service" is the autobiography of Nigeria’s former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, offering a deeply personal and political account of his life intertwined with Nigeria’s turbulent history. The book spans his childhood, military career, rise to power, and legacy, while addressing controversies that defined his rule. Key themes include:

1. Personal Journey:

• Traces Babangida’s upbringing in Minna, his early education, and orphanhood at 14.
• Details his military inspiration from teacher Pa Onimole and a career talk by Yakubu Gowon, who later became Head of State.
• Explains his name change from Ibrahim Badamasi to include Babangida to avoid ethnic confusion.
• Chronicles his near-fatal injury during the Nigerian Civil War, recovery, and courtship of his wife, Maryam, whose transformative role as First Lady is celebrated.

1. Political History & Reconciliation:

• Reveals Babangida’s involvement in pivotal coups, including the overthrow of Gowon (1975) and Buhari (1983), and his eventual ascension to power.
• Highlights Nigeria’s unique capacity for reconciliation, exemplified by former adversaries (Obasanjo, Buhari, Danjuma, Tinubu) attending the book launch as peers.
• Recalls dramatic episodes like confronting coupist Dimka during Murtala Mohammed’s assassination (1976) and restoring Gowon’s military honors as president.

1. Controversies & Reflections:

• Addresses contentious events: the Dele Giwa letter-bomb assassination (1986), execution of childhood friend Mamman Vatsa over a coup plot, the Gideon Orkar coup (1990), and the annulled June 12, 1993, election.
• Acknowledges for the first time that MKO Abiola won the annulled election, admitting regret: “If I had to do it all over, I’d do it differently.”
• Denies government involvement in the 1992 C-130 crash that killed military officers and dismisses conspiracy theories.

1. Legacy & Nuance:

• Balances self-defense with introspection, admitting missteps while defending his policies (e.g., Structural Adjustment Program).
• Portrays Babangida as a complex figure—charismatic yet controversial, dubbed “Maradona” or “evil genius” for his political maneuvering.

Significance:

The autobiography, Babangida’s first detailed account since leaving office in 1993, provides unprecedented insight into Nigeria’s military era. While it seeks to contextualize his decisions, it acknowledges unresolved debates, ensuring his legacy remains as contested as the history he shaped. The book is both a memoir of power and a mirror reflecting Nigeria’s enduring complexities