16th August, 2021
By Abankula
President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a somewhat loaded birthday greetings to former President Ibrahim Babangida, who famously toppled him in August 1985.
For one, it was one of the shortest birthday felicitations from Buhari to any living Nigerian.
It compares with the two-paragraph condolence statement sent to Buhari’s critic, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah last year, when his mother died in July 2020.
Both statements were issued by Buhari’s SSA Media, Garba Shehu.
Babangida who ruled Nigeria between 1985 and 1993 will be 80 on 17 August.
Buhari described Babangida and himself as privileged Nigerians and hoped Babangida will recommit to ongoing efforts to help the nation to reach more glory, progress, and prosperity.
President Buhari noted that as former military commanders during the war, both retiring as Generals, they have mutual interests, great hopes and expectations in a strong and united Nigeria.
He wished Babangida a “long and healthy life”.
The message did not even give a scant mention to Babangida’s achievements while in office for eight years.
Indeed, one of the misdeeds of Babangida while in office, the annulment of the 1993 June 12 election was corrected by Buhari in 2018.
He gave the winner of the election, MKO Abiola, a posthumous honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic.
The honour is usually reserved for Nigeria’s leaders, dead or alive.