I told Babangida he missed historic opportunity in 1993 — Tinubu

Eric Patrick 

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu shared a moment about a past encounter with former military President Ibrahim Babangida.

He described how he directly told Babangida, that he had missed a historic opportunity.

Babangida was the country’s head of state when Tinubu was elected to the Senate in 1992 to represent Lagos West, and ruled Nigeria from 1985 to 1993,

Speaking at a book launch in Babangida’s honour, Tinubu recalled how he challenged the former leader for repeatedly postponing the inauguration of elected officials after their victory at the polls.

Tinubu's statement was written from a video from the event shared on the X account of Channels TV.

Tinubu stated that he feared imprisonment for confronting the then-head of state.

Tinubu said, “One thing I will never forget: you were in office, and you acknowledged that we were elected, yet you kept postponing our inauguration.

“Then you summoned us to Abuja. When we became restless, you called us to the International Conference Centre. I sat there, listening in my radical manner, convinced that you wouldn’t inaugurate us yet again.

“Before we even returned to the hotel, it was locked—and no key!

“Later, when Dele Cole invited me to make a remark, I confronted you. I told you that you had the opportunity to make history that day, but you failed to seize it. I asked, ‘Why not inaugurate us? Why are you calling us back and postponing it again?’

“They thought I would end up in jail. But at the end of my remarks, you came forward, shook my hand, and I will never forget that moment.”

Praising Babangida’s contributions to nation-building, Tinubu said, “General Ibrahim Babangida, without you, people like me wouldn’t be in politics. You inspired some of us.

“Your progressive revolution — you said you wanted young, brilliant people in politics — back then in Dodan Barracks. You inspired some of us. And when we look at the programmes, many of us gathered here today for this library project can see the vision of a leader.

“Thank you for who you are. As for the book, I haven’t read it yet, but I have taken my copy, and I will read it.

“Without you, people like me wouldn’t be in politics. Your progressive revolution, your insistence on bringing young, brilliant minds into politics — you inspired us.”

Thewatch Africa had earlier reported that, the former president, Babangida confirmed that late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola won the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

He accepted taking full responsibility for all decisions made under his watch.