Former president Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) and his family yesterday marked his 72nd birthday with special prayers. The president of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, was among the prominent Nigerians in attendance.
The prayers took place at his Minna, Niger State, residence ; the entire event was devoid of any elaborate celebration.
Dangote was the first prominent personality to deliver a congratulatory letter to Babangida at the prayers session conducted by Khadi Alikali Usman Wada Erena.
The khadi prayed Allah to grant the former leader long life and good health so he could continue his good work of counselling and guiding new-generation leaders.
Later in the day, Babangida received the deputy governor of Niger State, Hon. Ahmed Ibeto, who led members of the State Executive Council to pay him a special birthday visit.
Also present were his friends in Minna: former PAN chairman Alhaji Umar Ndanusa, Alhaji Mohammed Tako, former federal permanent secretary Abdullahi Maji, Hassan Talo, and vice chancellor of IBB University Professor Ibrahim Adamu Kolo.
IBB, who later rushed to Kano to attend a wedding, had on Friday told journalists that he would want to be remembered as someone who played his part and contributed his quota in Nigeria’s development and the military.
Asked to write his epitaph, he said: “Here lies General IBB born in Minna, joined military profession in 1962, stayed there for 32 years, serving this great nation and, by the grace of God, he became a military president and served this country eight years. May his soul rest in peace.”
Babangida a great reformist – ACF
Meanwhile, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has described Babangida as a reformist whose legacies as a former head of state cannot be over-emphasised.
ACF national publicity secretary Mr Anthony Sani, who felicitated with IBB on behalf of the group, observed that “despite what other people might say about his shortcomings as a leader of our great country in his time, Babangida remains a notable Nigerian who took decisions based on confidence that comes with conviction with patriotic courage and in hope”.
“He introduced reforms called Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) that remains the economic model to date. He introduced Mass Mobilisation for Economic Recovery, Social Justice and Self-reliance (MAMSER) in order to enlighten and mobilise Nigerians into a society that is socially diverse, economically empowered and politically active in a manner that they could make judicious use of their democratic rights and ensure that their votes count.
“His two-party system provided clear choices to the electorate, hence the hankering for the same to date. As to the need to cater for rural folks and for the unemployed, he had NDE and DFRRI for effect. And that is why he is still the issue and institution as well as the cynosure in the polity even in the current dispensation,” Sani said.
Culled: Leadership
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