Which Nigerian leader played a significant role in mediating peace talks during the Liberian civil war?

Analyze the question: It asks which Nigerian leader was prominent in mediating peace during the Liberian civil war (which began in 1989 and ran through the 1990s, with a second phase from 1999 to 2003).

Concept: Nigeria led the formation of ECOMOG (the ECOWAS Monitoring Group) in 1990. This was a West African peacekeeping force sent to Liberia to stop the fighting and support negotiations. Nigeria supplied most of the troops, money, and commanders.

Step-by-step reasoning:

• The war started in December 1989 and ECOMOG was deployed in August 1990.
• The Nigerian head of state at that time was General Ibrahim Babangida (1985-1993).
• Babangida's government spearheaded ECOWAS's creation of ECOMOG, hosted and pushed forward peace conferences (such as the Banjul and Abuja-related processes), and backed the interim government arrangements for Liberia.
• Later, Sani Abacha (1993-1998) continued the effort, leading to the Abuja Accords of 1995-96, and Abdulsalami Abubakar also contributed in 1998-99.

Checking the other options:

• A. Obasanjo: He was head of state in 1976-79 and president from 1999. He played a part in the later stage, such as the 2003 departure of Charles Taylor to exile in Nigeria, but the main mediation and intervention is tied to Babangida's era.
• B. Buhari: He was head of state in 1983-85, before the war began, and was not a mediator during it.
• C. Goodluck Jonathan: He became president in 2010, after the war ended.

Answer: D. Ibrahim Babangida, whose government launched ECOMOG and led the early peace efforts.

Exam tip: Link leaders to events: Babangida = ECOMOG and Liberia (1990), Abacha = Abuja Accords (1995-96), Obasanjo = Taylor's exile (2003). If the question says "initiated" or "early" peace efforts, think Babangida.