Olabode George celebrates Babangida at 84

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has felicitated former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, on his 84th birthday, describing him as a patriot, visionary and selfless leader whose loyalty to Nigeria and contributions to national development cannot be questioned.

Chief George, a retired Commodore and Military Governor of the old Ondo State from 1987 to 1990 during the Babangida years, said this in a release made available to newsmen on Monday. He declared pointedly that the former military leader, whom he referred to as his boss, had made invaluable contributions to the nation’s economic and political development right from when he joined the Nigerian Army in the 1960s.

He also expressed strong belief that Babangida deserved to be celebrated on his 84th birthday, as, according to him, he is still “mentoring the younger generation to always add value to our democratic system.”

“As a patriot, visionary and selfless leader whose loyalty to Nigeria and contributions to national development cannot be questioned, I join millions of your admirers to celebrate you as you clock 84 years.

“I want to boldly say, as my boss, that you have made invaluable contributions to the economic and political development of this country right from when you joined the Nigerian Army in the 1960s. Even today, you are still mentoring the younger generation to always add value to our democratic system. That’s why I strongly believe you deserve to be celebrated on your 84th birthday,” he said.

George, who is also the Atona Oodua of Yorubaland, noted that Babangida shaped the political and economic development of Nigeria in a dynamic way, having risen to power at the young age of 44. He expressed joy at having learnt under him “as a Military Governor and in other military postings.”

“Becoming Head of State at a young age of 44, you shaped the political and economic development of Nigeria in a dynamic way.

“I am happy to have learnt under you as a Military Governor and in other military postings. As Head of State, you were bold, resolute, persistent, communicative, inspirational, magnetic, open-minded, innovative, imaginative, collaborative and goal-oriented.

“You set out concrete steps to achieve your administration’s specific goals. When you assumed office in 1985, you met 19 states, but on 23 September 1987, you created Akwa Ibom and Katsina States. On 27 August 1991, you also created nine more states: Abia, Enugu, Delta, Jigawa, Kebbi, Osun, Kogi, Taraba and Yobe, bringing the total number of states in Nigeria then to 30. You also created many agencies to spread development across the country,” he stated.

George maintained that the leadership style of the octogenarian was defined by “persuasion, charisma and a high intelligence network,” saying that the former military president “also articulated a vision for the future by mobilising Nigerians towards a desired goal.”

According to him, the long-planned transfer of the Federal Capital from Lagos to Abuja was completed by Babangida’s administration in December 1991. He added that the former military leader was equally instrumental in stabilising democracy in the West African sub-region through the deployment of ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) troops to restore stability in Liberia after civil war erupted in that country.

George noted that there is no human being created by God who does not make mistakes, citing the father of the Indian nation, Mahatma Gandhi, who once said: “Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.” He, however, wished General Babangida good health in the years ahead and more celebrations in the future.

“The long-planned transfer of the Federal Capital from Lagos to Abuja was completed by your administration in December 1991.

“You were also instrumental in stabilising democracy in the West African sub-region. An example was your use of ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) troops to restore stability in Liberia after civil war erupted in that country.

“Universally, there is no human being created by God who does not make mistakes. Only our Creator is infallible. Lawyer, politician, social activist, writer and father of the Indian nation, Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948), once said: ‘Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.’

“General sir, I wish you good health in the years ahead and more celebrations in the future,” he added.

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