Former Military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, has said that his government made Asaba the capital of Delta State because it was the most suitable town for it and not a way of pleasing his late wife, Mariam Babangida.
The woman who died nine years ago was believed to wield so much influence on the otherwise dreaded General.
Many believed Warri was more suitable than Asaba and linked IBB’s choice of the capital to the fact that Mariam was from there.
But in an interview, Babangida said, “It was not because of her. Before we created a state or local government, we studied everything-the history and the politics of that area; then, settled on one. I made a lot of consultations. I was fortunate I had Dennis Osadebe, I think he was a Premier of the Mid-West. I called him, went to him, and he told me the whole history of that area. Historically, during the British era, the town was an important town, and it was seen as such. So, from all the consultations, we made up our minds that we will make Asaba the capital. It just happened that my wife was from there.”
