Since meeting him, I have come to the irrevocable and unquestionable conclusion that man’s capacity to survive in this life is tied to what he wants. IBB’s life is made less burdensome by pursuing the bigger picture that sees the individual in creative collaboration for the common good.
If the past has vilified Babangida; the present has dressed him in saintly robes. IBB’s past has been a subject of negative stories of unachievable status; the present bourgeoning numbers of corruption cases and near-collapse of governance is gradually changing public perception. If inflating the cost of contracts was the problem then; public officers now steal money without awarding contracts.
Beyond the screaming sounds of his critics; IBB’s roles in liberalising and widening the frontiers of the media have been unprecedented. Even when some of his colleagues in the military warned such may lead to coups; he forged ahead. Over 29 years after leaving power, the liberalisation of the media has enhanced the democratic rights of citizens and led to the transformation of news mediums.
Most of his lieutenants have absolved him of any guilt over the nullification of June 12, insisting he did what he did due to current realities on the ground. Leadership comes with the price of accepting the mistakes of others. Through the years since he left power; the former military leader has never retracted, knowing that no one rewrite history. A nation that focuses on the past more than the future cannot be trusted to develop.
81 Nemesis is the reward of every good and bad action we do in life.