Babatunde "Tunde" Abdulbaki Idiagbon (14 September 1943 – 24 March 1999) was a Nigerian general who served as the 6th Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters (second-in-command) under military head of state General Muhammadu Buhari from 1983 to 1985.
He was also a grate member of Nigeria's military governments between 1966 and 1979, serving as a military administrator of Borno State under General Olusegun Obasanjo's military government.
Early life
Idiagbon was born into the family of his father Hassan Dogo He attended United Primary School, Ilorin from 1950 to 1952 and Okesuna Senior Primary School, Ilorin, 1953–57. He received his secondary education at the Nigeria Military School between 1958 and 1962.
In 1970, he was promoted to the rank of major. He was made brigade major and deputy commander, 33 Brigade from March 1970 to March 1971 and the commander, 29 Brigade from March 1971 to December 1972. In January 1973 he served as the general staff officer, Grade 1 and later, principal staff officer (PSO), Supreme Military Headquarters. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1974. He was made brigade commander, 31 and 15 Brigades from August 1975 to August 1978. In 1976, Idiagbon proceeded to the Command and Staff College in Quetta, Pakistan, for further military training. In July 1978 he was promoted to the rank of colonel. He was appointed as the director of manpower (manning) and planning, Army Headquarters in October 1979.
In May 1980 he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general. In 1981, he attended the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, Plateau state, Nigeria and in 1982 he attended the International Defence Management Course, Naval Postgraduate School, US. He was the military secretary of the Nigerian Army from 1981 to 1983.
Military administrator of Borno State
From August 1978 to October 1979, the military Head of State, General Obasanjo appointed Idiagbon as the military administrator (position now called governor) of Borno State, Nigeria.
He controlled all visible instruments of national, political, governmental and administrative powers. Idiagbon was responsible for introducing, announcing and implementing many of the government's major policies, they include:
War Against Indiscipline
The five phases of the War Against Indiscipline which Idiagbon announced and implemented were:
- Phase One - Queuing, launched on 20 March 1984
- Phase Two - Work Ethics, launched on 1 May 1984
- Phase Three - Nationalism and Patriotism, launched on 21 August 1984
- Phase Four - Anti-Corruption and Economic Sabotage, launched on 14 May 1985
- Phase Five - Environmental Sanitation, launched on 29 July 1985
Currency change and currency exchange rate policy
In April 1984, Idiagbon announced the introduction of a new currency for Nigeria. He said the new currency would keep the same name, but the colors of bills would be different.
He also announced limits to currency exchange for corporations and individuals. The individual limit was $7,000. He said any corporation or individual exchanging in excess of the limit had to explain where the money came from and needed government clearance.
According to Idiagbon the major cause of the nation's economic problems "is the deliberate sabotage of the Nigerian currency through large-scale illegal trafficking of the currency".
Import substitution industrialisation policy
In 1984, Idiagbon implemented the military government's import substitution industrialisation policy based on the use of local materials. Importation was tightened. The aim was to ensure the growth of local industries through the policy.
Go Back to Land Programme
Also in 1984, Idiagbon spearheaded and implemented the Go Back to Land Programme which was part of the government's farming policy that encouraged massive agricultural food production and was also part of the military government's poverty alleviation strategy.
Foreign policy
From January 1984 to August 1985, Idiagbon took control of all foreign policy matters that involved security. He was in control of the border closure, expulsion of illegal immigrants, and damage control after the Umaru Dikko Affair in Britain.
He also participated in diplomatic activities. On behalf of Nigeria's military government, he signed credit line and educational cooperation agreements with a visiting Bulgarian delegation led by Prime Minister Grisha Filipov in 1984. He led a delegation in 1984 to the Soviet Union to meet Soviet leader Konstantin Chernenko.
1985 military coup d'état
After 20 months in power, the military government of Buhari was overthrown by Ibrahim Babangida on 27 August 1985. Idiagbon was removed from his position as chief of staff, Supreme Headquarters, and he was placed under house arrest for three years, after his release he retired to his hometown Ilorin and lived in relative obscurity.
Personal life
On 6 March 1970, Idiagbon married Biodun Idiagbon (née Gamra). They had two sons and three daughters together: Adekunle, Junior, Ronke, Mope and Bola.
Awards
Major-General Idiagbon (Rtd.) received several awards and medals. In alphabetical order they include:
- Defence Service Medal (DSM) 40px|Defence Service Medal (Nigeria)
- Forces Service Star (FSS) 40px|Forces Service Star (Nigeria)
- General Service Medal (GSM) 40px|General Service Medal (Nigeria)
- National Service Medal (NSM) 40px|National Service Medal (Nigeria)