Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State, has praised former military president Ibrahim Babangida for his contributions to Nigeria’s economy and his strong support for entrepreneurship.
He spoke on Thursday at the launch of Babangida’s long-awaited autobiography, ‘A Journey in Service’, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
Obi highlighted the significant role Babangida played in driving private sector growth, describing it as immeasurable.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party further stated that during Babangida’s administration, Nigeria experienced substantial economic expansion, particularly in the financial sector.
According to Obi, Babangida was instrumental in fostering national unity and shaping an equitable economic landscape by implementing policies that strengthened cohesion and development.
The 63-year-old emphasised that documenting Babangida’s experiences is a commendable initiative, as it provides Nigerians with valuable lessons from those who have served and left a lasting impact on the nation.
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He said: “I look forward to reading this book, which undoubtedly holds valuable lessons. As someone committed to continuous learning, I will always align myself with knowledge drawn from documented experiences and historical records as well as contributing to the legacy library.
“Two Key Takeaways from the Keynote Address and IBB comment on the 1993 election. 1. The 1st is the keynote Speaker’s notable quotation in French, “Rien n’a changé” meaning “Nothing much has changed.” In the case of Nigeria, we are worse off than we were during IBB’s era. Using our contemporary peers as a benchmark, when IBB left office in 1992, countries like Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, and Ghana were all in the low Human Development Index (HDI) category—just like Nigeria. Today, however, these nations have advanced to medium and high HDI levels, while Nigeria remains in the low HDI category, having either stagnated or declined.
“The Keynote speaker’s comment that Ghana has remained a truly democratic country for the past 30 years, with leadership transitions that reflect the genuine votes of the people. Unlike Nigeria, where electoral outcomes often fail to reflect the people’s will, Ghana has witnessed instances where ruling party candidates conceded defeat, respecting democracy in its truest form.
“Lastly of the most profound moments of the event was IBB’s admission that Chief MKO Abiola won the June 12 election. This acknowledgement is a step toward national healing, unity and progress of our nation.
“I hope that one day, other key players in Nigeria’s democracy will find the courage to recognize the true winners of past elections, allowing our nation to tell its story with honesty and reflection.”
