.Calls for part-time legislature to cut cost of governance
Buhari, Atiku greet him

Tobi Soniyi and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, Laleye Dipo in
Minna

Celebrating his 75th birthday in Minna, the capital of Niger
State, yesterday, former military president, Gen. Ibrahim
Badamasi Babangida, protested an age-long derisive
appellation, saying he was not the evil that people ascribe to
him.

Interestingly, President Muhammadu Buhari, who
Babangida pushed out of power in 1985, paid him glowing
tributes yesterday “There is hardly any major episode in
Nigeria’s short history where your name and contribution
does not feature,” he said in a congratulatory message to his
erstwhile adversary.

Widely referred to in the media as an evil genius because of
his deft political manoeuvres in his days as military
president, Babangida said he was a trustworthy person with
an excellent background.

“I am not the evil genuis that a lot of people think I am. I
have an excellent background and by my training I am
trained to love people,” he told newsmen in Minna at a
press briefing held as part of activities to mark his 75th
birthday, which comes up today, explaining that he had
been largely misunderstood and dubbed evil genuis because
of his job.

He said: “I was bound to be misconstrued and people will
take it like that but I consider it as opinions as long as I am
not what you think I am I feel satisfied.”

Asked what he would have done differently if he had the
opportunity, the former military president said he would
have made the National Assembly a part-time business as
one of the ways to save cost.

According to him, “In 1989 we proposed that the National
Assembly should be part-time. I still believe that if I had the
opportunity I will make the National Assembly part-time. I
believe in that very strongly. It is all in an effort to cut down
the cost of governance.”

Babangida said being a military officer was more challenging
than being a military president because as the latter, he had
to seek people’s advice and discuss based on the prevailing
situation. On the contrary, he said, a military officer would
act alone and take responsibility for his decisions.

“You are the only one with the troops you are commanding.
Their hopes are on you and if you read a situation wrongly
you will put everyone in danger,” he explained.

The former military president, who fought in the Nigeria-
Biafra civil war, relived his battle-front experience, saying
the movement of the federal troops from Enugu to Umuahia
was his toughest military experience because they (the
troops) had to be physically fit to undertake the journey on
foot through the jungles and the mountains.

Babangida said it was at this front that he got injured.
He challenged young Nigerians with ambition to join the
army to be ready to face the task ahead, adding: “The youth
should expect to serve in any situation that they may be
called upon to serve. The army is a noble profession and it
is a profession that requires a lot of courage.”

Two prominent Nigerians testified to his good character in
separate goodwill messages yesterday.
Buhari and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar said that
Babangida deserved accolades for his contributions to the
development of the nation.

The president said: “On behalf of myself, my family, the
government and people of Nigeria, I wish to heartily
congratulate you on the milestone of attaining 75 years.
“I equally wish to congratulate you on your service to the
country, and your commitment to oneness and indivisibility
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“There is hardly any major episode in Nigeria’s short history
where your name and contribution does not feature.
“On this special occasion, I pray that Almighty Allah grants
you many more years to see Nigeria grow and develop
beyond all of our wildest dreams.”

On his part, Atiku said one of the greatest legacies of
Babangida was two-party system which made the political
process more manageable.

Atiku, who spoke through a statement by his Head of Media,
Paul Ibe, in Abuja yesterday said Babangida reduced the
wastage of resources through the financial support the
political parties got from the country’s electoral commission.

He noted that the former military president facilitated the
development of the Federal Capital Territory, conceived by a
former Head of State, late Gen. Murtala Mohammed.
“The virtues of forgiveness and the magnanimous spirit of
the former president is one of the magnetic and endearing
features of his character. It is impossible to encounter IBB
without being moved by his humility towards people,
regardless of their social status in life,” Atiku said, adding:
“His detribalised nature and passion about Nigeria’s oneness
are virtues worthy of emulation.”

He prayed that God grants the former military president
many more years in good health so that the country could
continue to drink from his fountain of wisdom.

Source: www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/08/17/ibb-at-75-says-im-not-an-evil-genius/

This made me laugh.

i guess this man is confessing