Family of late Gen. Mamman Jiya Vatsa, executed in 1986 for allegedly plotting a coup against former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida on Tuesday declared the former military dictator’s recently released memoir as “a collection of distorted facts” and “a good reference material for criminals”.
The Vatsa family spokesperson, Jonathan Vatsa, at a press conference in Minna, Niger State, expressed outrage over Babangida’s claim that Vatsa’s killing was justified due to evidence implicating him in a coup.
Jonathan said, “General babangida is a man that has lost in the affairs of honour over the many lies contained in his belated autobiography.
“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.”
He questioned the former military dictator’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.
Jonathan, who is also a former publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress in Niger State, accused Babangida of lying about the June 12 election annulment, stressing that the decision was Babangida’s and not that of General Sani Abacha.
The Vatsa family spokesman added, “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.”
Jonathan lamented that even in death, Babangida has refused to allow late General Vatsa and his family have peace.
He alleged, “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.”
