CONFIDENCE NEWS NG
By Temitope Muhideen
Tunde Abdulbaaki Idiagbon was born on 14 September 1943 in Ilorin, Kwara Star of Nigeria, his father was Hassan Dogo from the Fulani ancestrial lineage, his mother was Ayisatu Hassan Idiagbon, she is from the Yoruba extraction by birth. General Tunde Idiagbon was a stern looking military man, No nonsense, respected by local and international communities, feared by his colleagues, he was the father of Nigeria’s war against indiscipline who served as the Deputy Head of States to General Muhammadu Buhari during the military regime.
Idiagbon joined the Nigerian Military Training College (Now NDA) in 1962, he was sent to Pakistan to continue his military training while in school, he studied economics between 1962 to 1965 at the Pakistan Military Academy, he barged a bachelor’s degree in economics. He returned to Nigeria in 1965 and was commissioned to a full military man as second lieutenants, Idiagbon was deployed to several military formations in Nigeria, he served as the commander of the 4th Battalion from August 1965 to February 1966, Intelligence Officer 4th Battalion and General Staff Officer 3rd Intelligence 1st Sector. Tunde was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 1966.
In 1967, a year after his promotion, Civil War began between the Nigerian govt and now defunct Republic of Biafra, he was the Commanding Officer of 20 Battalion from October 1967 to February 1968, he was promoted to the rank of Captain in the same year, he served as Commander 125 Battalion from 1968 to 1970, the unit was described by many as one of the dreaded fighting unit during the Biafra War. He was promoted to the rank of Major, Brigade Major, Deputy Commander 33 Brigade from March 1970 to March 1971, Commander 29 brigade from March 1971 to December 1972.
In 1976, he travelled to Pakistan to further his military training in Queetta,in 1978 he was promoted to the rank of colonel, appointed as the Director of Manning and Planning, Army headquarters in October 1979 when the headquarters was still in Lagos, Nigeria. He became Brigadier General in 1980, he had a promising military career, got promoted when necessary.
When General Obasanjo became the military head of states after the assassination of General Ramat Murtala Muhammad, he appointed Tunde Idiagbon as the military governor of Borno State in 1978 where he served for a year when power was handed over to civilian administration headed by Alhaji Shehu Shagari, five years later, in December 1983, Major General Muhammad Buhari took over the reins of power after overthrowing Shagari’s civilian government, he appointed Idiagbon as the Chief of Staff Supreme Military Headquarters and by military convention Idiagbon was the deputy head of states or second in command to Buhari.
Tunde Idiagbon was the star boy of the Buhari/Idiagbon military regime, involved in many activities and policies, he took cover space of Nigerian newspaper, he was popular on the streets, he pose a threat his colleagues, a tireless deputy who added so much value to the Buhari/Idiagbon administration, he monitored all political and military organizations, he introduced, announced many government policies including the popular War Against Indiscipline (WAI). In 1984, Idiagbon announced the introduction of a new currency for Nigeria, he insisted that the new notes will keep the same name but the colours of the notes will be totally different, he also placed limits on currency exchange for corporations and single entity, placing it below $7000.
In 1984 Idiagbon implemented import substitution industrialization policy based on the use of local materials, it was targeted to increase the growth of local industry for a balance economy. He also took control of all foreign policy matters, he was in control of the boarder closure, deportation of illegal immigrants, he was the foreign policy director of the regime, Idiagbon was spoted everywhere.
After the numerous policy, life was hard for Nigerias and cost of living became unaffordable, essential commodities became scarce as a result of the policies of that regime. The soldiers plotted another coup to remove Buhari’s regime, but on numerous occasions, they suspended their plans because of dreaded Idiagbon, they chose to wait for the best time to strike. On 27 August 1985, Idiagbon was in faraway Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj, the regime was toppled by a group of soldiers led by Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, Sani Abacha, Joshua Dogonyaro, David Mark and others, when Idiagbon returned to Nigeria, he was placed under house arrest by the new military regime for three years while Buhari was also placed under house arrest in Benin City, after his release, he retired to his hometown in Ilorin where he lived with his family till his death. While in the military, he won several military awards including Defense Service Medal (DSM), Forces Service Staff (FSS), General Service Medal ( GSM), National Service Medal etc.
