The Tragedy of an Evil Genius

the ministry of arts / books dept.

I n Christopher Nolan’s 2008 movie The Dark Knight, there is a scene where the characters reflect on a self-appointed crusader seeking to clean up crime in Gotham City. The characters reference ancient Rome when the people reportedly abrogated the rule of law and gave powers to a person, they trusted would willingly cede power when they were done. One of the characters gives a quote that has remained popular in the years since: ‘You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.’

In a way, Ibrahim Babangida stands out as an exception to this rule. He did not perish in the field of battle, to be revered like many victims of Nigeria’s earlier coups or the civil war. He has also lived ‘too long’ for his alleged villainy to be perceived as impactful, particularly in comparison to successors who many might argue have failed to deliver on the promise of democratic leadership. Nigerian history remains steeped in gossip and legend, such as the true cause of General Sani Abacha’s death or the reason General J.T.U. Aguiyi-Ironsi did not punish the January 1966 coup plotters; many who knew the truth chose not to speak. As more of them aged, they began to weaponize it in opposing factions, leading to ongoing debates about whose truth is ‘true.’