By Oscar Okhifo<\/p>\n
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has congratulated ex-Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (retd) on the occasion of his 83rd birthday.<\/p>\n
IBB as he is fondly called, was born on August 17, 1941 in Minna, the Niger State Capital.<\/p>\n
Hated and loved in equal measures by Nigerians, the gap-toothed General ruled Nigeria from August 1985 to August 1993 when the political tension ocassioned by the annulment of the June 12 Presidential election forced him to step aside.<\/p>\n
In a congratulatory message he personally signed ahead of Babangida’s birthday anniversary, Atiku lauded the retired General for his role in the socio-economic and political development of Nigeria.<\/p>\n
The statement read in part: “As we commemorate General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida on his 83rd birthday, let us reflect on our values regarding national unity and the promotion of Nigeria as a nation where primordial tendencies have no place for growth.<\/p>\n
“For General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, the allure of his name and his hospitable demeanour distinguish him as a unique statesman.<\/p>\n
“IBB’s distinguished military career and his role as a politician who embraced inclusive politics are defining aspects of his enigmatic persona.”<\/p>\n
In a veiled reference to the inclusiveness of the military regime of the Minna-born general, Atiku noted that “IBB serves as a reminder of the importance of striving for unity in diversity.”<\/p>\n
Not unaware of the the diverse opinions on Babangida held by Nigerians during his turbulent political transition programme which earned him the nickname Maradona; Atiku had this to say:<\/p>\n
“While some scholarly works draw parallels between IBB’s statecraft and the strategies outlined in Niccolo Machiavelli’s writings, highlighting his prowess as a strategic thinker, I hold a contrasting view.<\/p>\n
“I believe that the IBB administration pursued altruistic goals in its moral quest for a nation where our diversity could be effectively managed through a shared commitment to unity.<\/p>\n
“IBB’s federalist orientation is evident in the composition of his administration.”<\/p>\n
In an apparent shot fired in the direction of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, the former Vice President added: “Today, unlike in the past, we witness the troubling display of bigotry and ethnocentric divisions in our nation, with individuals in positions of authority often promoting such divisive behaviours.<\/p>\n
“Regrettably, contemporary politics has become polarized as some politicians hold the misguided belief that power must be pursued at any cost.<\/p>\n
“It is the desire for such a rebirth that I am again calling on opposition political parties in the country to come together and make our democracy worth its name.”<\/p>\n
By Oscar Okhifo Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has congratulated ex-Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (retd) on the occasion of his 83rd birthday. IBB as he is fondly called,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":113933,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-113931","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n