- Calls for part-time legislature to cut cost of governance
- Buhari, Atiku greet him
Tobi Soniyi and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, Laleye Dipo in Minna
Celebrating his 75th birthday in Minna,
the capital of Niger State, yesterday, former military president, Gen.
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, protested an age-long derisive appellation,
saying he was not the evil that people ascribe to him.
Interestingly, President Muhammadu
Buhari, who Babangida pushed out of power in 1985, paid him glowing
tributes yesterday “There is hardly any major episode in Nigeria’s short
history where your name and contribution does not feature,” he said in a
congratulatory message to his erstwhile adversary.
Widely referred to in the media as an
evil genius because of his deft political manoeuvres in his days as
military president, Babangida said he was a trustworthy person with an
excellent background.
“I am not the evil genuis that a lot of
people think I am. I have an excellent background and by my training I
am trained to love people,” he told newsmen in Minna at a press briefing
held as part of activities to mark his 75th birthday, which comes up
today, explaining that he had been largely misunderstood and dubbed evil
genuis because of his job.
He said: “I was bound to be misconstrued
and people will take it like that but I consider it as opinions as long
as I am not what you think I am I feel satisfied.”
Asked what he would have done
differently if he had the opportunity, the former military president
said he would have made the National Assembly a part-time business as
one of the ways to save cost.
According to him, “In 1989 we proposed
that the National Assembly should be part-time. I still believe that if I
had the opportunity I will make the National Assembly part-time. I
believe in that very strongly. It is all in an effort to cut down the
cost of governance.”
Babangida said being a military officer
was more challenging than being a military president because as the
latter, he had to seek people’s advice and discuss based on the
prevailing situation. On the contrary, he said, a military officer would
act alone and take responsibility for his decisions.
“You are the only one with the troops
you are commanding. Their hopes are on you and if you read a situation
wrongly you will put everyone in danger,” he explained.
The former military president, who
fought in the Nigeria-Biafra civil war, relived his battle-front
experience, saying the movement of the federal troops from Enugu to
Umuahia was his toughest military experience because they (the troops)
had to be physically fit to undertake the journey on foot through the
jungles and the mountains.
Babangida said it was at this front that he got injured.
Babangida said it was at this front that he got injured.
He challenged young Nigerians with
ambition to join the army to be ready to face the task ahead, adding:
“The youth should expect to serve in any situation that they may be
called upon to serve. The army is a noble profession and it is a
profession that requires a lot of courage.”
Two prominent Nigerians testified to his good character in separate goodwill messages yesterday.
Two prominent Nigerians testified to his good character in separate goodwill messages yesterday.
Buhari and former Vice-President Atiku
Abubakar said that Babangida deserved accolades for his contributions to
the development of the nation.
The president said: “On behalf of myself, my family, the government and people of Nigeria, I wish to heartily congratulate you on the milestone of attaining 75 years.
The president said: “On behalf of myself, my family, the government and people of Nigeria, I wish to heartily congratulate you on the milestone of attaining 75 years.
“I equally wish to congratulate you on
your service to the country, and your commitment to oneness and
indivisibility of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“There is hardly any major episode in Nigeria’s short history where your name and contribution does not feature.
“There is hardly any major episode in Nigeria’s short history where your name and contribution does not feature.
“On this special occasion, I pray that
Almighty Allah grants you many more years to see Nigeria grow and
develop beyond all of our wildest dreams.”
On his part, Atiku said one of the greatest legacies of Babangida was two-party system which made the political process more manageable.
On his part, Atiku said one of the greatest legacies of Babangida was two-party system which made the political process more manageable.
Atiku, who spoke through a statement by
his Head of Media, Paul Ibe, in Abuja yesterday said Babangida reduced
the wastage of resources through the financial support the political
parties got from the country’s electoral commission.
He noted that the former military
president facilitated the development of the Federal Capital Territory,
conceived by a former Head of State, late Gen. Murtala Mohammed.
“The virtues of forgiveness and the
magnanimous spirit of the former president is one of the magnetic and
endearing features of his character. It is impossible to encounter IBB
without being moved by his humility towards people, regardless of their
social status in life,” Atiku said, adding: “His detribalised nature and
passion about Nigeria’s oneness are virtues worthy of emulation.”
He prayed that God grants the former
military president many more years in good health so that the country
could continue to drink from his fountain of wisdom.
Culled from Thisday
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