celebrity radar - gossips
Why Babangida’s Hilltop Home Became Nigeria’s Political “Mecca”
Why Babangida’s Hilltop Home Became Nigeria’s Political “Mecca”.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s birthday visit to Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) in Minna (where he hailed the octogenarian as a patriotic leader committed to national unity) was more than a courtesy call. It was a reminder of a peculiar constant in Nigerian politics: the steady pilgrimage of power-seekers, bridge-builders and crisis-managers to the Hilltop mansion. Jonathan’s own words captured it bluntly: IBB’s residence “is like a Mecca of sorts” because of the former military president’s enduring relevance and perceived nation-first posture.
Babangida turned 84 on 17 August 2025. That alone invites reflection on a career that has shaped Nigeria’s political architecture for four decades; admired by some for audacious statecraft, condemned by others for controversies that still shadow the republic. Born on 17 August 1941 in Minna, he ruled as military president from 1985 to 1993, presiding over transformative and turbulent chapters: the relocation of the national capital to Abuja in 1991; the creation of political institutions for a long, complex transition; economic liberalisation that cut both ways; and the fateful annulment of the 12 June 1993 election. Each of these choices helps explain why the Hilltop remains a magnet for Nigerians who need counsel, cover or calibration.
A house built on influence; why the visits never stop.
Let’s start with the obvious: access. Nigeria’s political class prizes proximity to the men and women who can open doors, soften opposition, broker peace and read the hidden currents. In that calculus, IBB’s network is unmatched. He cultivated a reputation for “political engineering,” the reason the press christened him “Maradona” (for deft dribbling through complexity) and “Evil Genius” (for the strategic cunning his critics decried). Whether one embraces or rejects those labels, they reflect a reality: Babangida is still the place where many politicians go to test ideas, seek endorsements or secure introductions. Even the mainstream press has described him as a consultant of sorts to desperate or ambitious politicians, an uncomfortable description that nevertheless underlines his gravitational pull.
Though it isn’t only political tact that draws visitors; it’s statecraft with lasting fingerprints. Moving the seat of government from Lagos to Abuja in December 1991 was not a cosmetic relocation, it re-centred the federation and signaled a symbolic neutrality in a country fractured by regional suspicion. Abuja’s founding logic (GEOGRAPHIC CENTRALITY and ETHNIC NEUTRALITY) continues to stabilise the national imagination. This is part of the reason many leaders, across party lines, still defer to IBB: he didn’t just rule; he rearranged the map of power.
Then there’s the regional dimension. Under his watch, Nigeria led the creation and deployment of ECOMOG in 1990 to staunch Liberia’s bloody civil war, a bold move that announced Abuja as a regional security anchor. The intervention was imperfect, contested and costly, but it helped define West Africa’s collective security posture and Nigeria’s leadership brand. When neighboring states now face crises, the memory of that precedent still echoes in diplomatic corridors and Babangida’s counsel retains currency among those who remember how decisions were made.
Jonathan’s praise and the unity argument.
Jonathan’s tribute (stressing Babangida’s non-sectional outlook and commitment to unity) goes to the heart of the Hilltop mystique. For a multi-ethnic federation straining under distrust, figures who can speak across divides are prized. Jonathan’s point wasn’t nostalgia; it was a live assessment of a man many still call when Nigeria’s seams fray. That’s why the parade to Minna continues: the anxious, the ambitious and the statesmanlike alike seek an elder who can convene rivals and cool temperatures.
The unresolved shadow: June 12 and the ethics of influence.
No honest appraisal can skip the hardest chapter: the annulment of the 12 June 1993 election (judged widely as free and fair) was a rupture that delegitimised the transition and scarred Nigeria’s democratic journey. Political scientist Larry Diamond has repeatedly identified June 12 as a prime example of how authoritarian reversals corrode democratic legitimacy and public trust. His larger warning (“few developments are more destructive to the legitimacy of new democracies than blatant and pervasive political corruption”) captures the moral crater that followed the annulment and the years of drift that ensued. Those wounds are part of the Babangida legacy too and they complicate the reverence that a steady stream of visitors displays.
Max Siollun, a leading historian of Nigeria’s military era, has observed (provocatively) that the military’s “greatest contribution” to democracy may have been to rule “long and badly enough” that Nigerians lost appetite for soldiers in power. It’s a stinging line, yet it helps explain the paradox of IBB’s status: the same system he personified taught Nigeria costly lessons that hardened its democratic reflexes. Today’s generation visits the Hilltop not to revive militarism but to harvest hard-won insights about managing a fragile federation.
What sustains the pilgrimage.
1) Institutional memory: Nigeria’s politics often suffers amnesia. Babangida offers a living archive of security crises navigated, regional diplomacy attempted, volatile markets tempered and power-sharing experiments designed. Whether one applauds or condemns specific choices, the muscle memory of governing a complex federation is rare and urgently sought.
2) Convening power: In a season of polarisation, the ability to sit warring factions in the same room is not small capital. Babangida’s imprimatur remains a safe invitation card few refuse it, fewer ignore it. That convening power explains why movements, parties and would-be presidents keep filing up the long driveway. Recent delegations have explicitly cast their courtesy calls in the language of unity, loyalty and patriotism ahead of pivotal elections.
3) Signals to the base: Visiting Minna telegraphs seriousness to party structures and funders. It says: “I have sought counsel where history meets experience.” In Nigeria’s coded political theatre, that signal still matters. Outlets have reported for years that many aspirants treat the Hilltop as an obligatory stop an unflattering reality, perhaps, but a revealing one.
4) The man and the myth: The mansion itself, with its opulence and aura, has become a set piece in Nigeria’s story of power, admired by some, resented by others, but always discussed. The myth feeds the pilgrimage; the pilgrimage feeds the myth.
The balance sheet at 84.
To treat Babangida solely as a sage is to forget the costs of his era; to treat him only as a villain is to ignore the architecture that still holds parts of Nigeria together. Abuja’s relocation stands as a stabilising bet that paid off. ECOMOG, for all its flaws, seeded a habit of regional responsibility. Conversely, June 12 remains a national cautionary tale about elite manipulation, civilian marginalisation and the brittleness of transitions managed from above. These are not contradictory truths; they are the double helix of Babangida’s place in Nigerian memory.
Jonathan’s homage tried to distill the better angel of IBB’s record: MENTORSHIP, BRIDGE-BUILDING and a POSTURE that (at least in his telling) RESISTS SECTIONAL ISM. “That is why today, his house is like a Mecca of sorts,” he said, praying that the GENERAL continues to “mentor the younger ones.” Whether one agrees with the full sentiment, it accurately describes the lived politics of Nigeria today: Minna remains a checkpoint on the road to relevance.
The scholar’s verdict and a citizen’s challenge.
If Diamond warns about legitimacy and Siollun warns about the perils of soldier-politics, what should Nigerians demand from the Hilltop effect? Three things.
First, use influence to open space, not close it. Counsel should tilt toward rules, institutions and credible elections not kingmaking for its own sake. The lesson of 1993 is that subverting a valid vote haunts a nation for decades.
Second, mentor for unity, but insist on accountability. Unity cannot be a euphemism for silence. A truly patriotic elder statesman sets a high bar for conduct and condemns the shortcuts that tempt new actors in old ways. Diamond’s admonition on corruption is not an abstraction; it’s a roadmap for rebuilding trust.
Third, convert nostalgia into institutional memory. If Babangida’s house is a classroom, then Nigeria should capture, publish and debate its lessons in the open: on peace operations (what worked, what failed), on capital relocation (how to plan at scale), and on transitions (how not to repeat 1993). Only then does the pilgrimage serve the republic rather than personalities.
At 84, Ibrahim Babangida remains a paradox that Nigeria cannot ignore: a man whose legacy straddles NATION-BUILDING and NATION-BRUISING, whose doors remain open to those seeking power and those seeking peace. Jonathan’s visit (and his striking “Mecca” metaphor) reveals a simple, stubborn fact: in a country still searching for steady hands, the Hilltop’s shadow is long. The task before Nigeria is to ensure that the shadow points toward a brighter constitutional daybreak, where influence is finally subordinated to institutions and where mentorship hardens into norms that no single mansion can monopolise. That is the only pilgrimage worth making.
celebrity radar - gossips
Dr. Chris Okafor Returns with Power and Fire of the Spirit -Mounts Grace Nation Altar with Fresh Anointing and Restoration Grace on February 1, 2026
Dr. Chris Okafor Returns with Power and Fire of the Spirit
-Mounts Grace Nation Altar with Fresh Anointing and Restoration Grace
on February 1, 2026
Grace Nation International, also known as Liberation City, is set to witness an outpouring of supernatural power and the fire of the Holy Spirit as the Generational Prophet of God and Senior Pastor of Grace Nation Worldwide, Dr. Chris Okafor, returns to the altar after a one-month break.
Dr. Okafor, who recently got married late last year, took time away for his honeymoon—a period that also served as a season of spiritual retreat and renewed fellowship with God.
According to information released to the media, the Generational Prophet will be resuming ministry with fresh anointing, renewed fire, and divine grace, positioning Grace Nation for a higher spiritual dimension in 2026.
The February 1, 2026 service is expected to be intensely prophetic, with God set to use His servant mightily in the areas of deliverance, healing, restoration, and the resolution of diverse case files brought before Elohim.
Church members and worshippers anticipate a powerful move of God, as Dr. Chris Okafor mounts the Grace Nation altar with renewed spiritual strength following his season of rest and divine alignment.
It will be recalled that the Generational Prophet deliberately took a one-month break for his honeymoon, during which he also sought God’s face for direction and empowerment ahead of the new year.
celebrity radar - gossips
The Reformer Who Doesn’t Grandstand: Inside Tosin Ajayi’s Quiet Transformation of the DSS
The Reformer Who Doesn’t Grandstand: Inside Tosin Ajayi’s Quiet Transformation of the DSS
In a country where public office is often accompanied by loud proclamations and headline-seeking gestures, the leadership style of Tosin Ajayi, Director-General of Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS), stands out for an entirely different reason: restraint. Since assuming office, Ajayi has pursued reform without fanfare, reshaping one of Nigeria’s most powerful security institutions not through rhetoric, but through deliberate actions that signal a deeper cultural shift.
For decades, the DSS, like many intelligence agencies around the world, has operated largely in the shadows, its successes unannounced and its failures often controversial. Public perception has oscillated between fear and mistrust, driven by allegations of excesses, secrecy, and occasional disregard for civil liberties. It is against this complex backdrop that Ajayi’s tenure has begun to redefine what leadership in such a sensitive institution can look like.
Leadership Without the Megaphone
Unlike predecessors who were frequently thrust into public debates by crises or confrontations, Ajayi has embraced a low-profile approach. There are no dramatic press conferences, no chest-thumping declarations of power. Instead, insiders describe a leader focused on process, discipline, and institutional self-correction. This has earned him a reputation as a reformer who prefers results over recognition.
Under Ajayi, the DSS has demonstrated a renewed commitment to operating strictly within the bounds of the law. This does not mean a weakening of national security capacity. On the contrary, security analysts note that intelligence operations have become more targeted and professional, emphasizing precision rather than brute force. The message, subtly but firmly communicated within the agency, is clear: effectiveness and legality are not mutually exclusive.
A Turning Point: Accountability in Practice
Perhaps the most telling example of this new direction was the DSS’s handling of a long-standing and sensitive case involving the accidental shooting of a civilian during an operation in 2016. For years, the incident lingered as a symbol of unresolved grievances between citizens and security agencies. Under Ajayi’s leadership, the DSS took the unusual step of publicly acknowledging responsibility, compensating the victim with ₦20 million, and providing free medical care.
In a system where accountability from security institutions is rare, the move was widely regarded as unprecedented. There was no attempt to deflect blame or bury the issue under bureaucratic silence. Instead, the DSS chose restitution over denial. Observers argue that this single action did more to rebuild public trust than dozens of press statements ever could.
Humanising State Security
Beyond compensation, Ajayi’s DSS has shown a growing sensitivity to the human impact of security operations. The provision of healthcare support to the affected civilian sent a powerful signal: national security is ultimately about protecting people, not intimidating them. This approach has quietly shifted internal attitudes, reinforcing the idea that intelligence work must respect human dignity even in high-pressure situations.
Civil society groups, often critical of security agencies, have cautiously acknowledged this change in tone. While skepticism remains, understandably so in a country with a long history of security abuses, there is a growing recognition that the DSS under Ajayi is making an effort to recalibrate its relationship with the public.
Reforming from Within
What makes Ajayi’s approach particularly significant is that much of the reform is happening internally. Training, operational guidelines, and command discipline have reportedly been tightened to reduce the likelihood of rogue actions by operatives. Rather than relying on punitive measures after the fact, the emphasis is on prevention: clear rules, better supervision, and a culture of responsibility.
This internal reform is arguably the hardest kind to achieve. It does not lend itself to quick headlines or viral moments. Yet, over time, it is precisely this kind of change that determines whether an institution evolves or stagnates.
A New Security Culture?
Ajayi’s tenure suggests a broader philosophical shift in Nigeria’s security architecture—one that recognises that public trust is itself a strategic asset. Intelligence agencies thrive on cooperation, information flow, and legitimacy. When citizens view security services as lawful and fair, they are more likely to cooperate, making the nation safer in the long run.
By choosing restraint over grandstanding, Ajayi appears to understand this dynamic. His leadership sends a message that power need not be loud to be effective, and that reform does not always announce itself with a bang. Sometimes, it arrives quietly, measured in policies changed, mistakes corrected, and trust slowly rebuilt.
Tosin Ajayi may never be the most visible security chief Nigeria has known, and that may be precisely the point. In an era hungry for dramatic leadership, his quiet transformation of the DSS offers a different model: one where strength is shown through discipline, authority through accountability, and reform through consistency.
History may ultimately judge Ajayi not by how often his name appeared in the news, but by whether the DSS he leaves behind is more professional, more restrained, and more aligned with the rule of law than the one he inherited. If early signs are any indication, his legacy may well be that of the reformer who didn’t grandstand—but changed the system all the same.
celebrity radar - gossips
Saheed Osupa Partners Harmony Garden Ltd, Offers Mouthwatering Deals and Urges Fans to Invest in Real Estate
Saheed Osupa Partners Harmony Garden Ltd, Offers Mouthwatering Deals and Urges Fans to Invest in Real Estate
Renowned Fuji music icon, King Dr. Saheed Osupa, has entered into a strategic partnership with Harmony Garden Ltd, a fast-growing real estate development company, as part of efforts to promote wealth creation through property investment.
The celebrated musician announced the collaboration during a public engagement with fans and stakeholders, where he emphasized the importance of owning assets that appreciate over time. According to him, real estate remains one of the most reliable and secure investment options, particularly for individuals seeking long-term financial stability.
With the partnership, Dr. Saheed Osupa has assumed the role of Real Estate Ambassador, using his wide influence to encourage millions of his fans across Nigeria and the diaspora to consider property investment as a means of securing their future.
Dr. Osupa made the disclosure at the Harmony Garden Ltd office in Ajah, Lagos State, where he expressed pride in officially announcing his ambassadorial partnership, noting that the initiative aligns with his vision of promoting financial awareness and sustainable investment opportunities.
Dr. Osupa explained that his decision to align with Harmony Garden Ltd was influenced by the company’s proven track record, transparency, and commitment to delivering quality housing projects. He urged his fans; particularly young people and creatives; to look beyond income from entertainment and begin building sustainable financial futures through long-term investments.
According to him, the partnership with Ibile Traditional Mortgage is designed to open up unprecedented opportunities in real estate investment for his fans.
“Music has given me a platform, but wise investment secures the future,” the Fuji maestro said. “Real estate is something everyone should consider. It is safe, tangible, and it appreciates over time. That is why I am proud to partner with Harmony Garden Ltd.”
Osupa also called on his fans at home and abroad to take advantage of the initiative, revealing that for the next six months, fans worldwide will have access to exclusive discounts on prime lands and properties in premium locations across Lagos.
He added that the offer includes properties within the prestigious New Osupa Boulevard development by Harmony Garden Ltd, describing the opportunity as more than just a commercial deal but a pathway to long-term wealth creation.
“I advise my fans not to miss this limited-time opportunity to own a piece of legacy at highly competitive prices,” he said, noting that the initiative is aimed at turning dreams into reality by encouraging timely and informed investment decisions.
Saheed Mosadoluwa, Chief Executive Officer of Harmony Garden Ltd, described the partnership as a union built on trust and shared values. He said the company remains committed to making property ownership more accessible by offering flexible payment plans and developing estates in strategic locations.
In his remarks, Mosadoluwa advised members of the public to take advantage of the opportunity to secure property through the Harmony Garden Ltd platform. He added that investors stand to enjoy additional benefits and privileges, particularly during the current promotional period.
“We have attractive offers for the public, especially with the ambassadorial partnership of King Dr. Saheed Osupa,” he said. “The first 300 applicants will benefit from special discounts.”
According to him, properties valued at ₦30 million will be offered at ₦25 million to Osupa’s fans and other interested buyers, with flexible installment payment options spread over six months. He also disclosed that land allocation will commence for individuals who make an initial payment of at least ₦5 million, with the balance payable within the same period.
The collaboration is expected to increase awareness of real estate investment among Osupa’s vast fan base across Nigeria and the diaspora. Industry observers believe the endorsement by the respected Fuji legend could boost investor confidence and encourage first-time buyers to make informed decisions about property ownership.
With this partnership, Dr. Saheed Osupa joins a growing number of public figures leveraging their influence to promote financial literacy and asset-based investments among their followers.
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