How "Maradona" Shut Down Abuja Traffic for His Book Launch, Raised Over 16 Billion Naira for IBB Presidential Library
True to his generally perceived penchant for pulling strategic dribbling skills on the pitch of Nigeria's political landscape, former Nigerian military ruler, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has made the news with his latest effort to bear his own mind on his roles in the annulment of the 1993 Presidential election among other roles he played in the political trajectory of the country via the public presentation of his 440-page autobiography launched in Abuja - an event that literarily shut down the FCT
Olufemi Orunsola
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that former Nigerian Military Head of State, known and referred to as the country's political Maradona, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida has succeeded at literarily shutting down Abuja, the federal capital territory over the launch of his autobiography which commanded the donation of over 16 billion naira.
OTN News further reports that the country's federal capital territory got shot down like a stadium with an unusually heavy traffic gridlock on roads leading to the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, venue of the book launch of the former military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB).
OTN gathered that a catalogue of who's who in Nigeria, including former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who was the Chairman of the ocassion, as well as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who graced the occasion where many dignitaries and guests are struggled to gain access to the venue.
The launched book titled: “A Journey of Service” is an autobiography of the former military ruler who played an unforgettable role in the annulment of the results of the 1993 Presidential election of Chief M.K.O Abiola.
OTN News further gathered that while the book launch and fund raising towards a Presidential Library in honour of the former military ruler was scheduled to take off by 11 am with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Special Guest of Honour, heavy security presence within and around the hotel was heightened with armed Policemen, plain-clothed detectives and security personnel directing human and vehicular traffic as early as 8 am.
Security operatives had a very hectic day as they were saddled with the onerous task of subjecting invited guests to thorough checks and also manage the heavy human and vehicular traffic even as most invitees abandoned their cars and walked down to the Congress Hall, the venue of the book launch where people without the invitation cards were politely prevented from gaining entrance.
Multiple sources confirmed that although the event was billed to start at 11 am, most guests were seated as early as 9 am, some two hours ahead of the scheduled take off time of the event.
OTN News observes that one of the highpoints of the event was the moment former Nigerian Vice President who is known for his oratory obvious rattled the gathering with his concise retracing of the political history of the country in respect of how the annulled June 1993 election affected current Nigeria's President who was at that time a Senator.
“When Babangida annulled the 1993 elections and Abacha took over, dissolving the Senate, that senator (Tinubu) tried to reconstitute the Senate in resistance to the dissolution. He was detained, faced charges in court, and escaped into exile. Today, he is also here to celebrate with his former tormentors as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu," the former Vice President Osibanjo said, getting President Tinubu and a cross section of the audience to respond with a cacophony of hysterical reactions.
Osibanjo further affirmed the book launcher, known and addressed as political "Maradona" in many circles, dubbed the "Evil Genius" by others, is indeed, one of the most enigmatic leaders Nigeria ever had.
He therefore described the autobiography of the former President as a rare attempt for him to bear his own mind on the issues pertaining to his service years while still alive.
Although the former military head of state, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida detailed in his autobiography, "A Journey in Service"that the late Chief Moshood Abiola won the June 12, 1993, presidential election, he described the annulment of the election as the most difficult decision of his life.
"His words, "There was no doubt in my mind; MKO Abiola won the election. He satisfied all the requirements.".
He expressed relief that President Muhammadu Buhari later acknowledged Abiola’s victory by posthumously awarding him the Grand Commander of the the Federal Republic (GCFR), Nigeria’s highest honor reserved for presidents.
Meanwhile, OTN News gathered that well over 16 Billion naira was donated towards the building of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) Presidential Library, as frontline Nigerian business man, Aliko Dangote, donated 8 billion naira while BUA donated 5 billion naira, among other donors.
On the whole, while the former military ruler seem to have carefully deployed the instrumentality of his autobiography to re-write his own life's history, unveiling many political saga attached to his name in the anals of Nigeria's democratic journey, with heaps of adulation and praises showered on him, many Nigerians have criticized him for his failure to unravel the mystery behind the death of foremost Nigerian investigative journalist, Dele Giwa who reportedly died after receiving a bomb letter of which it is reported that the last words of the journalist was "This must be from the President".
What's Your Reaction?
