08.10.2009

Former football star and member of the Presidential Com-mittee on 2010 World Cup qualification, Ambassador John Fashanu, at the weekend, apologised to former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, over allegations that Babangida was involved in debt-buy-back.
Fashanu, who visited Babangida in his Minna residence, said his visit was to inform the General of his forthcoming youth academy event and also tender unreserved apology over the accusation he made years ago against the General.
Fashanu was in company with Chairman/CEO, Reagan Renaissance Group, owner of Reagan Cement, Chief Reagan Ufomba, who brokered the reconciliation.
The former football star said he was misguided on the said allegation and accused the Nigeria media of misrepresenting his position on the issue.
“There was never a time that I accused Gen. Babangida over funds stalked away in any foreign land. It was just a media creation and I have personally apologized to him for the embarrassment it has caused him,” he said.
His apology is coming barely two months after Saliba Mukoro was taken to Minna by the Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, to seek forgiveness for participating in a foiled military coup against Babangida’s regime.
Fashanu and Ufomba, who arrived Babangida’s Hill Top residence around 10am and immediately went into a closed-door meeting lasting three hours with the former president, later said he was pleased with the outcome of the reconciliation.
He described the meeting as a rare privilege, saying he was humbled by the warm reception accorded him by the General.
Fashanu noted that he was also misquoted by newspapers that published the said report and that he never mentioned Babangida in the alleged debt-buy-back running into several billions of dollars.
“I can say it again and again, that there was nothing like debt-buy-back or any billions stalked away in any account anywhere. It was all a misrepresentation by the media world-wide, and it is rather unfortunate,” he said.
What happened, he said, was that some sections of the media liked to attribute anything good or bad to the former military president, adding that he felt sorry for his action, which he said was due to youthful exuberance, among others.
The former football star, who recalled that his relationship with Babangida dated way back to 1989 when the former military president got him introduced to former Iron Lady of Britain, Margaret Thatcher in Britain, said Babangida was not involved in any debt-buy-back scam.
“I am sorry; we have not found any evidence to link the name of His Excellency with any debt- buy-back or any allegation at all. I have also apologized to Her Excellency Maryam Babangida as well,” he said.
He said he felt humbled and highly privileged to meet with the former military president and begged him for forgiveness for the embarrassment the publications might have caused him.
Responding, Babangida expressed delight at Fashanu's visit, adding that it was not his nature to say no to those who had come forth to beg for forgiveness after realizing their mistakes.
He also said he was interested in the football academy programme being packaged by Fashanu under the auspices of the Association of Local Govern-ment of Nigeria (ALGON).
“You media goons should concern yourself with helping John to succeed in his football academy programme rather than dwelling so much on apology or no apology,” IBB submitted.

Who cares what and who a fraud like fashanu apologizes to?

he still has unclear match fixing claims hanging over his head in England.
i have never seen an ajebutter hustle like John.
his hustling and name dropping skill is legendary.

Fashanu should have verified his suspicions before going public; now he has to kiss the dust but all na to make money.

Fash the bash! This guy is more Nigerian than those who are born and bred.

Corruption is never far from him. I remember when Victory International pastor was convicted on corruption charges. Fash's name was never far from the scandal. Even during his NFA days, they were chopping money, not to talk of the match-fixing scandal that broke in England the late 1980's in which Grobelaar and Fash's name was involved.

Fash the bash is like a flash in the Pan!

He has no credibility!

Evil genius at work again, IBB is clearing his path to the road to Aso Rock, after all he only stepped aside in 1993. He is getting his staunch critics on his side and attempting to rewrite history. I think Fashanu on his own side has political ambitions and IBBs is still very relevant in Nigeria's political equation.


IBB has positioned his daughter at the heart of the hausa/fulani oligarchy. Watch out for more of IBB's antics in the very near future

I have know this for a long time considering he is a yoruba man has no credibility at all - Just looking for something to chop .


bloody crook.

John Fashanu is a groupie.

A Yoruba man will always be a Yoruba man. Typical cowardice and arrsss lickness. Why can't he stand on his criticism knowing fully well that IBB is corrupt no matter how you look at it. What is he afraid of by apologizing? What is the opology going to achieve for him? Well, he is a Yoruba and that is their trait.

wirinet:

Evil genius at work again, IBB is clearing his path to the road to Aso Rock, after all he only stepped aside in 1993. He is getting his staunch critics on his side and attempting to rewrite history. I think Fashanu on his own side has political ambitions and IBBs is still very relevant in Nigeria's political equation.


IBB has positioned his daughter at the heart of the hausa/fulani oligarchy. Watch out for more of IBB's antics in the very near future

Rubbish. That's the same thing peeps like you insinuated at the tail end of OBJ's presidency. Where was IBB then to take over from OBJ? Nonsense!!! Watch out for more of IBB's antics my arrsssss.

OMO IBO:

John Fashanu is a groupie.

Groupie indeed

why is everyone suddenly making peace with IBB? Oh 2011 is around the corner.

John Fashanu is a groupie

Wetin be groupie?

all na because of moni

JOHN FASHANU HAS DONE THE RIGHT THING!!  The guy rocks----nobody is above mistake!!  i too like the guy and also his tribe--------Fash for life!!

Fraud apologises to Baban-barao over normal behaviour.
Fashanu is an idiot. Who cares who he apologises to?

"obo n gbobo gope" - monkey backing monkey up a palm tree.

Fashanu should be left with his decision, and in this government of rule of law anybody who has a proof as regards IBB's wrong doing should go to Court .

thanks for the civics lecture.

I guess Fashanu has a plan to make IBB his god-father.
What a shame.

true talk!

Fhemmmy:

I guess Fashanu has a plan to make IBB his god-father.
What a shame.

Yes o! a kind of omage he went to pay!

These three gentlemen shall make our country great again: Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida as PRESIDENT. Gen. Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo as VICE PRESIDENT and Alhaji Umaru Musa Ya'adua as SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT. I hope it will come to past.

As a person, i do admire IBB's courage and Ingenuity, but not the decisions he made while in office. But Fashanu is Something else. The man is just husssling and clawing about for money . I could almost swear he was a begger in his former life

I guess he has finally realized that it isn't easy to do a slavery duty. Fashanu has done well.
And those of you who think Fashanu is a groupie, please take a moment out and get to know the man called IBB, and I assure you that you will quickly become one of the groupies, you have no defence, the man is that good.

Morizo:

As a person, i do admire IBB's courage and Ingenuity, but not the decisions he made while in office. But Fashanu is Something else. The man is just husssling and clawing about for money . I could almost swear he was a begger in his former life

The guy is still a begger but in developed way

fashanu is a coward.no more no less.

GALANTRICH:

fashanu is a coward.no more no less.

So sad, cos i thot the guy was credible

He doesn't know when to stop,just a naive blackman,with all his exposure and experience,he is still dumb.Of course anybody that identify with the likes of IBB,OBJ.IKIMI,ATIKU dem and co is a criminal