Victor Ezeja
Former Nigeria’s military head of state, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has raised not less than N17.5 billion for his proposed presidential library project.
The fundraising was done during the launch of Babangida’s book titled “Journey in Service,” in Abuja on Thursday, 20 February.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe fund was realised through donations from mainly Nigeria’s business elite.
During the launching of the book which is a memoir, Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote donated N2 billion and pledged to add N2 billion annually over the next three years, bringing his total to N8 billion.
On his part, billionaire industrialist and chairman of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu, announced a donation of N5 billion during the book launch. Former Minister of Defence, TY Danjuma pledged N3 billion.
While billionaire businessman, Arthur Eze, supported the project with N500 million, Nigerian businesswoman and philanthropist, Folorunsho Alakija, and a few others also made donations but did not disclose the amount publicly.
The event had in attendance former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who chaired the book presentation, President Bola Tinubu, former President Dr Goodluck Jonathan, and former vice presidents, Atiku Abubakar, and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who reviewed the book.
Others are former head of state, Yakubu Gowon, immediate past president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, who sent representatives and ex-President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, who delivered a keynote address.
In his remarks, Babangida hailed the donors for identifying with the presidential library project.
The project when completed is to serve as a repository of Nigeria’s political, and military history.
The library would also be used to document the history of leadership and governance, especially during the period of Babangida’s stay in power as the only military president in Nigeria.
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While speaking on some of the issues contained in his memoir, Babangida finally admitted that the June 12, 1993, presidential election was the most free and fair one and that late Chief Moshood Abiola won the election.
Babangida stated that Abiola, who ran on the Social Democratic Party (SDP) platform, secured both the majority vote and the required geographical spread to become president.
While taking responsibility for all decisions that led to the annulment of the exercise, the former military head of state, said his actions were regrettable but were taken for the sake of national interest so that Nigeria could survive.
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“As the leader of the military administration, I accept full responsibility for all decisions taken by me. And June 12 happened under my watch. Mistakes, oversights, and missteps happen in quick succession but I say in my book, in all matters, we acted in extreme national interest so that Nigeria could survive,” Babangida stated.
He said the book is part of his personal story of that encounter with national history.
He hailed Buhari’s gesture of acknowledging Abiola’s victory by posthumously awarding him the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), Nigeria’s highest honor reserved for presidents, and also declaring June 12 as a national holiday to mark Democracy Day in Nigeria.
President Tinubu commended Babangida for his revelation about June 12 and taking responsibility for what happened then.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
