Former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, did not go out of his way to victimise late Major-Gen. Mamman Vatsa during the military trial that directed the execution of Vatsa.

A former Director of National Intelligence and Director of Military Intelligence at various times in the 1990s, Retired General Haliru Akilu, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday.

Akilu explained that the loyalty and empathy of Babangida, especially for his friends and family, did not conform to the narrative about the role of the then Head of State.

On March 5, 1986, Vatsa was executed by the military regime of Babangida, who was his childhood friend, after a military tribunal conviction for treason associated with an abortive coup.

“When you know General Babangida, you’ll understand that these narratives didn’t fit the picture. As the leader then, IBB had to follow the right process of the military trials of any act of treason and there are persons bestowed with that responsibility,” Akilu was quoted by NAN as saying.

Akilu added that with time the various legacies of Babangida would be brought out for the future generation to learn and understand that every Nigeria’s leader contributed immensely to national development.

He said, “IBB laid solid infrastructural development for the Nation during his regime. We have that bringing the Federal Capital of the country back to Abuja. This was a great decision that only leaders of IBB’s capacity can make.

“The second is the building of military barracks in Abuja, the building of the National Assembly Complex, the Aso Rock Villa (State House), the Federal Secretariat as well as economic and social empowerment of Nigerians, especially women with the establishment of the Better Life for Rural Women as MAMSER.”