Taiwo Popoola
The family of late Gen. Mamman Jiya Vatsa, executed in 1986 for allegedly plotting a coup against Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, IBB, has described the former military Head of State’s recently released memoir as “a collection of distorted facts” and “a good reference material for criminals”.
Jonathan Vatsa, the family’s spokesperson and a cousin of the late General, who addressed journalists in Minna on Tuesday, expressed outrage over Babangida’s claim that Vatsa’s killing was justified due to evidence implicating him in a coup.
“General Babangida is a man who has lost in the affairs of honour over the many lies contained in his belated autobiography book.
“Babangida’s book is a bunch of lies and blackmails. It’s a collection of distorted facts that cannot be a reference book for young and upcoming generations but rather for criminals,” Jonathan Vatsa said.
He questioned Babangida’s identity, citing his admission of changing his name from Badamosi to Babangida to associate with the northern region.
“Northerners don’t bear the name Badamosi; it’s synonymous with the South-West people,” Vatsa said.
The former Niger State APC publicity secretary accused Babangida of lying about the June 12 election annulment, stating that it was Babangida’s decision, not General Sani Abacha’s.
“How can he lie that Abacha annulled the election when he was in control as Head of State?
“Unfortunately, the man he accused of annulling the June 12 and all the actors in the June 12 controversy are no more today to tell their own story and that is why no serious-minded individual should take the book seriously,” the Vatsa family spokesman added.
He further lamented that even in death, Babangida refused to allow the late General Vatsa and his family to have peace.
“IBB is still troubling the dead man and his entire family. Well, people have seen the end of our brother, but Babangida doesn’t know how he will end.
“Our joy is that the reactions of Nigerians after the so-called book presentation shows that the killing of late General Vatsa was done out of envy, malice and hatred.”
