Veteran broadcaster Sunny Irabor has recalled telling former military president Ibrahim Babangida to re-record his maiden national broadcast after the 1985 military coup, saying the speech was delivered too quickly.
Speaking on The Legacy Series on Friday, July 3, 2026, Irabor reflected on the events following the coup announced by General Sani Abacha. He said Babangida later visited the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) to record his first national address.
“When Babangida came to power in a coup announced by Abacha, he went to NTA to record his maiden broadcast. We left Radio Nigeria to see how it played out. His first broadcast was very fast and he was magnanimous enough to ask, ‘How did it sound?’ I shouted, ‘That was too fast.’ Everybody looked at me and I hid my head, and Babangida retook the announcement,” Irabor said.
Irabor said he and his colleagues from Radio Nigeria were present during the recording and praised Babangida’s willingness to seek feedback and re-record the address to ensure it was delivered more clearly.
