Alhaji Sani Ahmad Zangina has spoken about the relationship between former military Head of State Muhammadu Buhari and late military ruler Sani Abacha, saying Abacha was unhappy with the coup that removed Buhari from power.
Zangina made this statement during an interview on The PAP Show, where he discussed Nigeria’s political history and the events surrounding military rule.
He referred to a book launched by former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida in 2025, saying Babangida described how Abacha was not pleased when plans were made to overthrow Buhari but eventually agreed to the coup.
Zangina also recalled the events surrounding the 1979 election that brought Shehu Shagari to power after Olusegun Obasanjo’s military government.
According to him, Buhari later overthrew Shagari’s government after the president won a second term. He said Obasanjo and his deputy, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, reportedly had a common grievance over Buhari’s decision to remove Shagari, whom they considered a democratically elected president.
Zangina further discussed Babangida’s time in power, including the execution of Mamman Vatsa, whom he described as Babangida’s close friend.
He also recalled how Ernest Shonekan became head of state after Babangida stepped aside, before Abacha took over the government.
In his words, “If you look at the Babangida Book that he launched in 2025, he described the relationship of Abacha and Buhari, that when they were about to overthrow Buhari, Abacha was not happy with that coup, but he had to consent to it and allow it to happen.”
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