₦airaland Forum

Generals Buhari and Babangida reconciled in the early 2000s. Orji Uzor Kalu was one of the people that reconciled them.

After the reconciliation, they both rode in the same car to attend an event.

Buhari and Babangida often joked together at National Council of State meetings when Buhari was president (this was before Babangida was confined to a wheelchair).

naptu2:
Back in September. . .

Obasanjo: "Mr President, you are welcome back from Ghana".

Buhari: "Welcome to the Villa Sir".




Last week. . .

Buhari to Gowon: "Morning Sir the Overlord".


Buhari to IBB: "Ibro, how are we?"
Babangida: "Ranka ya dade".

Peter Obi @PeterObi

Today, I had the gracious honour of attending the launch of President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s long-awaited autobiography, A Journey in Service, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

IBB’s contributions to Nigeria’s economy and his strong support for entrepreneurship and private sector growth remain immeasurable.

Under his leadership, Nigeria witnessed substantial growth, particularly in the financial sector. He played a key role in fostering a united and equitable Nigeria, and economic landscape, ensuring policies that strengthened national cohesion and economic development.

Documenting such experiences is a welcome development, as it allows us to learn from those who have served and left a lasting impact on the nation. I look forward to reading this book, which undoubtedly holds valuable lessons. As someone committed to continuous learning, I will always align myself with knowledge drawn from documented experiences and historical records as well as contributing to the legacy library.

Two Key Takeaways from the Keynote Address and IBB comment on the 1993 election.

1. The 1st is the keynote Speaker's notable quotation in French, "Rien n’a changé" meaning "Nothing much has changed." In the case of Nigeria, we are worse off than we were during IBB’s era. Using our contemporary peers as a benchmark, when IBB left office in 1992, countries like Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, and Ghana were all in the low Human Development Index (HDI) category—just like Nigeria. Today, however, these nations have advanced to medium and high HDI levels, while Nigeria remains in the low HDI category, having either stagnated or declined.

2. The Keynote speaker's comment that Ghana has remained a truly democratic country for the past 30 years, with leadership transitions that reflect the genuine votes of the people. Unlike Nigeria, where electoral outcomes often fail to reflect the people’s will, Ghana has witnessed instances where ruling party candidates conceded defeat, respecting democracy in its truest form.

Lastly of the most profound moments of the event was IBB’s admission that Chief MKO Abiola won the June 12 election. This acknowledgement is a step toward national healing, unity and progress of our nation.

I hope that one day, other key players in Nigeria’s democracy will find the courage to recognize the true winners of past elections, allowing our nation to tell its story with honesty and reflection.

A New Nigeria is POssible!

-PO

Atiku Abubakar @atiku

On a courtesy visit to former military President Ibrahim Babangida ahead of his book launch tomorrow. -AA

Atiku Abubakar @atiku

I have just arrived at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja for the book launch of former military president Ibrahim Babangida and fundraising for the IBB Presidential Library. -AA #AJourneyInService

Hemanwel:
President Buhari wasn't present. Why?

Egbon naptu2, you addressed IBB as "president Babangida". He was a "Head of States" nah! He wasn't a democratically-elected leader. Or, is there something I am missing? You can school me. I am always willing and ready to learn from you, sir!

Ibrahim Babangida used the title president from August 27th, 1985 till August 27th, 1993. He is the only military president in Nigeria's history.

President Buhari had earlier telephoned President Babangida to tell him that he won't be able to make it. He sent a former minister as representative.

President Obasanjo also thought that he won't be able to make it, so he wrote a speech. He read the speech as if he wasn't present, even though he was right there.

accountantben:
It seems that IBB is on a wheeled chair.

He was shot during the Civil War. They couldn't remove the bullet (I think it's in a sensitive place). He has radiculopathy. On two occasions he had to go abroad for treatment when he was president.

He has had to wear othopedic shoes because of it and he is now confined to a wheelchair.

Photo 1) President Tinubu shakes hands with President Babangida.

Photo 2) President Tinubu delivers his speech.

Photo 1) President Tinubu shakes hands with President Obasanjo while President Babangida watches.

Photo 2) President Goodluck Jonathan, President Bola Tinubu, President Ernest Bai Koroma (former president of Sierra Leone) and General Yakubu Gowon.

Photo 3) President Tinubu, President Nana Akufo-Addo (former president of Ghana), President Ibrahim Babangida and Mohammed Babangida.

President Bola Tinubu, former presidents and heads of state General Yakubu Gowon, President Olusegun Obasanjo, General Abdulsalami Abubakar and President Goodluck Jonathan (General Buhari sent a representative), the former president of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo, the former president of Sierra Leone Ernest Bai Koroma, former vice presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo and Yemi Osinbajo and many other guests attended the launching of President Ibrahim Babangida's autobiography in Abuja.

The event was also a fund raising ceremony for the Ibrahim Babangida Presidential Library.

Here are photos and videos of the event.


Olusegun Obasanjo

“You have not only contributed to history; you have contributed to documenting history. 

“It is an important part of our nation building to keep accurate records. Please don’t be unduly worried about critics and put him down syndrome.

“It may even be an indication of success, but take note of objective criticism. A chronic critic of mine, the late Tunji Braithwhite, may his soul rest in perfect peace, condemned a book of mine. And when asked if he had read it, he answered in the negative. He said he had not read it, and said that once Obasanjo was the writer, it must be condemned.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75hga9wVe6o?si=3ur5AEMsNUtJXhVu



Aliko Dangote

I will contribute N2b annually for the next four years which is N8b to the development of the IBB Presidential Library. If the project drags more than four years, I will continue to pay N2b every year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6yWMsBE-SA?si=kqO_Swxc8DjPcagY


Abdulsamad Isyaku Rabiu and Lieutenant General Theophilus Danjuma

Chairman of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu, has donated N5 billion to establish the IBB Presidential Library, while General TY Danjuma has also donated N3 billion towards this initiative.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3awVdmxI-o?si=srYxM45IBXSTmeQb


General Yakubu Gowon

General Gowon said that he visited Babangida's school to convince them to join the Army and ten of them joined the Army (Babangida said that they were actually fifteen that joined the Army), including Babangida and Abdulsalam Abubakar.

He talked about how his late younger brother (Captain Isaiah Gowon) told him that he had a very good commander during the Civil War (Babangida) and he (General Gowon) was thinking of making the officer his ADC.

He said that it didn't happen and he was given his marching orders from Dodan Barracks. He said that Babangida was one of the people that gave him his marching orders from Dodan Barracks. It was a very difficult period and he was charged with treason.

But Shagari pardoned him and Babangida restored his rank.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwnWF4RMFnA?si=khlTaNZQLW53qs-L


Dr Goodluck Jonathan

President Jonathan said that he decided to deliver his speech while standing because he is the youngest of the former presidents. He said that he is waiting for President Tinubu to finish his presidency, so that there'll be somebody sitting on his left during National Council of State meetings.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGrwKCjtDWw?si=KIeN2pSkG8UEagUj


President Bola Tinubu

President Tinubu said that President Babangida did not immediately inaugurate the National Assembly after they were elected in 1991. There were rumblings and Babangida had a meeting with the senators. He said that he spoke up and spoke directly to President Babangida at the meeting and said, "Why are you delaying? Why not inaugurate the National Assembly here and now"?

People said that he would be arrested, but President Babangida walked up to him (when he was leaving) and shook his hand.

He talked about the banking reforms and said that the new generation banks would not exist without President Babangida.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqTlRedIqhY?si=7Eurv7GYbE_FX-4D


General Abdulsalam Abubakar

General Abubakar said that his relationship with General Babangida goes back over 80 years. He said that the usual argument between them was over who was older. He said that the argument has now been settled, "I bow to you, you are older". He thanked everybody for coming to honour his friend, his senior prefect, his colleague.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_CJ4glK8Ik?si=cpzD1EX732wiHlt8


Professor Yemi Osinbajo

Professor Osinbajo was the book reviewer and he said that General Babangida stated (in the book) that Chief MKO Abiola won the June 12, 1993 election.

He said, "Tinubu who was forced into exile by the military is here to celebrate with his former tormentors".


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_TbCHSUTvQ?si=G8PGG5-1S0s6GzzP



General Ibrahim Babangida

General Babangida said that the June 12 election would not have been annulled if he had his way. He thanked everybody for coming to honour him and he thanked General Abubakar for admitting that he is his elder brother.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO1BNpWyKZA?si=0IwnQ-iVvAp9PprW