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IBB:The Abstruse Of The Autobiography Of An Aptitude

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By Bala Ibrahim.

32 years after leaving office, former military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, popularly referred to as IBB, has today launched his long-awaited autobiography in Abuja. Titled, “A Journey In Service”, the event was originally billed to be chaired by his boss, former president Olusegun Obasanjo, but for some reasons, he was visibly absent at the venue. However, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was physically present as the special guest of honour. In attendance also was the former President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, who delivered the keynote address, while former Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, played the reviewer of the autobiography. As expected, the event brought forward eminent members of the society, amongst whom are former Head of state Gen.Yakubu Gowon, former Head of state Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, and former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

The book and Presidential Library were launched by the duo of the former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, ably represented by Gen. Martin Luther Agwai and the Chairman of BUA Group, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu. As at the time of writing this article, the biggest donation of N5 billion came from Alhaji Abdussamad Rabiu of BUA, followed by the generous donation of N3 billion from Gen. T. Y. Danjuma, the co-launcher. But dramatically, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the Chairman of Dangote Group, announced the donation of N2 billion each year for the next four years. And if the project exceeds four years, he would continue to pay N2 billion every year, he pledged. Technically, he is the largest donor.

A Journey In Service is a book that is coming after three decades of waiting, and as the publisher put’s it, there is a world of difference between engineering a nation and ruling a nation. According to the publisher, he never ruled a nation, he only engineered a nation. And that to me, is an abstruse, or, one of the complications I anticipated in IBB’s account of his journey in service. Hate him or like him, IBB is an enigma. Yes, a person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand.

Although he had since dissociated himself from the widely held view that he is an evil genius, because of his demonstrative skill and cleverness in political manoeuvring, in his days as military president, the minds of many is still filled with questions on the abstruse of this autobiography. Like former President Muhammadu Buhari, who Babangida pushed out of power in 1985, once said, “There is hardly any major episode in Nigeria’s short history where your name and contribution does not feature.” Undoubtedly, IBB is an aptitude that had repeatedly said he is a trustworthy person with an excellent background.

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Years back, at a press briefing held in Minna, as part of activities to mark his 75th birthday, Babangida told newsmen thus, “I am not the evil genius that a lot of people think I am. I have an excellent background and by my training I am trained to love people.” One may be forgiven if he comes confused, in differentiating between whether IBB is an intelligent person or simply an aptitude, because he possesses the two qualities in quantum. While intelligence test measures your current cognitive skills, on the other hand, an aptitude test measures whether you have the potential to develop skills in specific areas in the future. And IBB is excellent in both.

In reviewing the book, former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo said, the book is a story of stories of the journey of Nigeria as a nation. Although the book had touched on many areas, but the section that watered the appetite of every reader most, is what he has to say about June 12. Yes, the annulment of the Presidential election that took place in 1993, who annulled it, why was it annulled? etc. Characteristically, IBB devoted a segment of the book to what he called, the events that shock his administration to its foundation. He listed events like the death of Dele Giwa, the Vatsa coup, the Orka coup, OIC palaver, SAP riots, the C130 Air force plane crash in Lagos and of course the June 12 saga.

With a sober sense of responsibility, and in a solemn manner, IBB said and I quote, “with regards the June 12, mistakes and misteps were taken, and I deeply regret them, but take full responsibility. There was no doubt that based on the recorded votes, MKO Abiola won the election. Undoubtedly that decision was the most challenging moment of my life. With hindsight, if I have to do it again, I would do it differently. The book dwelled on how as a Lt. Colonel, he played a role in the coup that toppled the man who lured him into the military- Gen. Gowon. And today, Gen. Gowon admitted in person, to that episode, but showered encomiums on IBB, for a number of reasons, including the restoration of his rank, his salary areas and his dignity, after their withdrawal by a previous regime. In all, A Journey In Service is the abstruse of an autobiography of an aptitude. And the aptitude is IBB, otherwise called, “The Maradona”.

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Kaduna 2027: Governor Uba Sani Replaces Deputy, Names Jerry Adams as Running Mate

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

In a major political realignment ahead of the 2027 governorship election, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has officially nominated the Chairman of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), Jerry Adams, as his new running mate.

The announcement, made on Tuesday via a personally signed statement, effectively signals the end of the ticket with the current Deputy Governor, Hadiza Balarabe, who also served as Deputy to former Governor Nasir El-Rufai during his second term.

Governor Sani framed the decision as more than a political calculation, describing it as a “reaffirmation” of his administration’s core philosophy of inclusive governance.

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“This decision is far greater than the selection of a deputy governorship candidate. It is a reaffirmation of the values that have guided our administration since I took the oath of office on 29 May 2023; the values of inclusion, justice, fairness, equity and the unwavering conviction that every citizen of Kaduna State deserves a genuine sense of belonging,” the Governor stated.

Addressing the state’s complex socio-political landscape, Sani noted that Kaduna’s rich diversity in ethnicity, religion, and culture should be a source of strength rather than division. He reflected on the state’s history, emphasizing the need to learn from past conflicts.

“Our history has taught us difficult lessons about the heavy cost of division, mistrust and exclusion. Yet it has also shown us that when we choose dialogue over discord, inclusion over alienation and justice over prejudice, our people achieve extraordinary things together,” he added.

The Governor touted his administration’s track record over the last three years as evidence of this commitment, citing equitable distribution of developmental projects across the state’s 23 local government areas. Key sectors highlighted include road infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, water supply, rural development, and social protection programs.

The nomination of Jerry Adams, who currently oversees the state’s revenue generation, signals a potential shift in the administration’s focus toward economic consolidation and fiscal expansion as it prepares for the 2027 electoral contest.

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No Sin in Politics’ Wike Says as Fubara Returns to Rainbow Coalition

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

FCT minister Nyesom Wike has welcomed the return of Governor Siminalayi Fubara to his political side, declaring the latter has corrected his mistakes.

He said this in Abuja on Tuesday after inspecting the project, alongside the ongoing construction of the service carriageways of the Southern Parkway in Gaduwa District, Abuja.

Reacting to the Rivers governor’s recent declaration about his return to the Rainbow Coalition and pledge of complete loyalty to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, Mr Wike said, “There is no sin in politics.”

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The minister further stated, “If someone realises he made a mistake and decides to correct it, there is nothing wrong with that.

“What matters is recognising that you were on the wrong path and deciding to take the right path.”

The minister, who welcomed Mr Fubara back into his political fold, insisted that the governor had “no other choice” than to return to the political family that brought him to power.

Mr Wike explained that the Rivers governor’s decision to align with his political camp publicly was a step in the right direction, adding that the reconciliation would strengthen support for Mr Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.

“I said during my last media chat that he had no other choice but to return to the same political family that produced him,” Mr Wike stated.

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Aminu Magashi Donates Relief Materials to Bichi Female Rehabilitation Centre Inmates

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The Technical Adviser to the Kano State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba, has donated relief materials, including blankets, food items, and essential drugs, to inmates of the Bichi Female Rehabilitation Centre following the destruction caused by a recent rainstorm.

Dr. Magashi made the donation during a visit to the facility on Sunday, July 26, accompanied by officials of the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), led by its Executive Secretary, Alhaji Isyaku Abdullahi Kubarachi.

The visit followed a heavy rainstorm that damaged parts of the rehabilitation centre, leaving several buildings in need of urgent repairs. During the inspection, Dr. Magashi interacted with staff and female inmates while assessing the extent of the destruction.

He observed that the rainstorm had blown off the roofs of several female accommodation blocks, while sections of the perimeter fence had collapsed, creating serious safety and security concerns for the facility.

In response to the situation, Dr. Magashi commended the Kano State Emergency Management Agency for its swift intervention, particularly the decision to temporarily relocate all female inmates to a dedicated and secured section within the Bichi Male Rehabilitation Centre.

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According to SEMA, the temporary relocation was undertaken to safeguard the lives and welfare of the inmates while rehabilitation and reconstruction of the damaged facility are carried out.

Dr. Magashi described the agency’s response as timely and necessary, noting that the safety and well-being of vulnerable persons in government care should remain a top priority.

He also pledged to support SEMA and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in convening a strategic stakeholders’ meeting aimed at reviewing the incident and strengthening emergency response mechanisms across rehabilitation centres in the state.

The meeting, he said, would provide an opportunity to mobilize additional support from government institutions, non-governmental organizations, and development partners to improve SEMA’s capacity in managing the 13 rehabilitation centres under its supervision.

Dr. Magashi highlighted his continued commitment to supporting humanitarian interventions across Kano State, recalling that he had previously visited six of the state’s 13 rehabilitation centres where he donated drugs and food items to inmates.

He added that he had also sponsored a one-day capacity-building training for health workers serving in the rehabilitation centres to improve healthcare delivery to inmates.

The Technical Adviser expressed appreciation to the Executive Governor of Kano State, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, for appointing him to serve in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, pledging to continue supporting initiatives that improve the welfare of vulnerable residents across the state.If you’d like, I can also make it follow the exact Nigerian Tracker house style with a stronger lead, subhead, and editor-ready formatting.

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