By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

EX-Chief of Defence Training and Planning, General Ishola Williams (rtd), has contradicted claims made in the recently released autobiography of former Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, stating that Babangida had already prepared General Sani Abacha to take over before the co

Speaking on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political program aired on Channels Television, Gen Williams dismissed Babangida’s claim that he had not planned for Abacha’s takeover.

He revealed that IBB referred to Abacha as ‘Khalipha’, signaling his intent for him to be his successor.

“Gen Babangida forgot to mention that he used to call Gen Abacha the Khalipha, which meant that one way or the other, he was encouraging Gen Abacha to succeed him,” Williams stated.

A Question IBB Refused To Answer
Williams also disclosed a private midnight conversation with Babangida in Minna, where he directly asked him about an agreement with Abacha.

He said, “I asked him: ‘Did you have a blood oath with Abacha that he would succeed you?’ But he refused to answer. This was in Minna, one-on-one, at the Presidential Guest House.”

The former General further recounted a meeting where civilian governors urged Babangida to remain in power. Shortly after, he personally advised IBB to ignore them and hand over to a civilian government.

“I wrote to IBB in August 1993, saying the best thing for the military was to return power to civilians.

“When he stepped aside, I was Commander in Minna, and we had prepared to receive him with full military honors,” Williams added.

Abacha’s Sudden Takeover
According to Gen Williams, after Babangida’s exit, Abacha flew into Minna, met with Babangida, and changed all the service chiefs.

Williams said, “He (IBB) had appointed new service chiefs, and when they told me, I warned them they wouldn’t last long. Shortly after, Abacha came in and replaced them all.”

Gen Williams disclosed that before the interim government was established, a secret meeting was held among top military officers, with the late Attorney General, Clement Akpamgbo, as the only civilian present.

“When the discussion started about June 12, I was shocked. I thought we came to discuss the handover process, not an annulment,” he said.

He added that Gen Abacha dismissed his concerns, saying, “Ishola, don’t talk like that.” However, Williams insisted that the annulment had no legitimate basis.

Transition Government Was Designed For Abacha
Williams also revealed that the decree setting up the transitional government under Ernest Shonekan was designed to be a mere formality, paving the way for Abacha’s eventual takeover.

“I said we don’t need the transitional government, but it was ruled out. The whole decree was planned in such a way so that Abacha could take over,” he explained.

The revelations by Gen Williams add another layer of controversy to Babangida’s 420-page memoir, ‘A Journey in Service’, which was launched at a high-profile event in Abuja on February 20, 2025.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

*Says Meranda Security Details Withdrawn For Regular Audit Lagos Police Command

The Lagos State Police Command has denied involvement in the fired Lagos Speaker’s return to the Chambers, explaining that the withdrawal of the police personnel attached to Hon. Mojisola Meranda, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Moshood Jimoh disclosed this during a press briefing with journalists on Thursday at Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja.

According to CP Jimoh “Periodic audit of police personnel attached to eminent personalities and group is a police statutory laid down procedure which is not limited to Lagos State Police Command alone, this is to ensure that the police personnel are accounted for including their firearms and other police crime fighting equipment in their possession.

“To further ensure that they are on their duty posts and the firearms and equipment under their custody is not misused. As we speak, other Police State Commands in the Country are carrying out similar audit of Police personnel hitch free and without any problem.

“The exercise will equally avail the Command the opportunity to discover where police personnel are posted without approval and or those that are on illegal duties and unapproved duty posts, so that we can withdraw those on unapproved duty posts, those with invalid approval and those on illegal duty and redeploy them to Police Posts, Stations, Divisions and Area Commands to provide security and safety for all Lagosians.

” It is important to underscore the facts that Lagos State, the Centre of Excellence with more than Twenty million population but with a strength of police personnel of less than 18,000 in total need more personnel to be at the police posts, police stations, divisions for the safety and adequate protection of lives and property of everyone in Lagos State.

The ongoing police personnel audit in the Lagos State Command is done in absolutely public interest and not with any other considerations, except for the safety of all in the State. As I speak with you the audit of the police personnel attached to Hon. Mojisola Meranda has been completed and the four armed personnel attached to her from the Lagos State Police Command have been returned back to her for her protection.

“It is pertinent to also state that the ongoing police personnel audit has been on for several days now and prominent personalities and individuals have been complying with the process. The exercise once again is not aimed or targeted at any individual.

“For these prominent personalities or Business Executives that have no valid approval or having policemen attached to them under unapproved beats, they are implored to revalidate their approval for those with invalid approval or apply afresh to the Inspector-General of Police for their request to be approved without delay. “However, for those whose police personnel are still undergoing audit process with the Command, the outcome of the audit will enable the next line of action to be taken. Let me sound a note of warning that prominent persons/individuals without valid approval, Police deployment to them will be withdrawn throughout the State.

“The Special Protection Units Department at the Force Headquarters have been mandated to provide security coverage for every Nigerian needing police protection in the country, and will henceforth provide deployment of police personnel for guard duties and personnel protection, will be centrally done throughout the country at the Force Headquarters.

“In the ongoing personnel audit some personalities approval in Lagos State with policemen attached to them cannot be traced or verified. However, they can still apply to the Inspector-General of Police for the approval of request/application and this will be treated urgently on merit as stipulated in the police regulations of guards and protection of VIPs, non-VIPs and other individuals.

“There was an application from Hon. Mudashiru Obasa on threats to his life and that of his family in the last few days and it was on the basis of that, that Police personnel were approved to him for that purpose only.

“The Lagos State Police Command is not aware and not in the know of how and when the office of the Speaker in the Lagos State House of Assembly was broken into.

“The Lagos State Police Command is neutral in the whole episode and will continue to do so to ensure law and order and public safety and security throughout the length and breadth of Lagos State. This we will not be tired of doing at the Lagos State Police Command. I hereby appeal for calm, for everyone to go about their lawful duties and responsibilities peacefully.

“The police deployment at the Lagos State House of Assembly today has been reinforced and fortified with more deployments of Police Mobile Force Personnel (PMF) units, Counter Terrorism Units, Special Protection Units, the Bomb Squads, the conventional police teams and detectives, along with Armoured Personnel Carrier and other vehicular patrol teams to deter, prevent any untoward incident.

“Whatsoever has been done in the Lagos State House of Assembly today, the Lagos State Police Command is not in the know.

The Police don’t have responsibilities in the hallow chamber, we are limited to providing adequate security coverage for the House of Assembly and not to be involved in any other matters of politics inside the premises, except if there is complaint that bordered on crimes and safety.

“The Lagos Police Command will continue to be neutral and not get involved in any politics. Security situations in the Lagos State House of Assembly is firmly under control and normalcy has been fully restored. Lagosians are enjoined to go about their lawful businesses and other responsibilities without fear and apprehension as the police is absolutely resolved to maintain law and order throughout the State.”

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Naira continued its fall against the dollar at the parallel foreign exchange market on Thursday.

A Bureau de Change operator in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, Abubakar Alhasan, said that the Naira dropped to N1500 per dollar on Thursday from N1490 exchanged on Wednesday.

This showed that the Naira fell by N10 against the dollar on Thursday compared to the N1,490 per dollar exchange rate the previous day.

Recall that this is the second time this week, the naira had weakened at the black market.

Meanwhile, at the official market, the Naira rose slightly by N0.04 to N1,499.07 on Thursday from N1,499.11 on Wednesday.