Ibrahim Babangida
Ibrahim Babangida
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, also known as IBB, is a retired Nigerian Army General who was President of Nigeria under military rule. He ruled Nigeria from 27 August 1985, when he overthrew Major General Muhammadu Buhari in a coup, until his departure from office on 27 August 1993, having annulled the elections held on 12 June that year. General Babangida was a key player in most of the military coups in Nigeria. There is evidence of severe human rights abuses during...
NationalityNigerian
ProfessionStatesman
Date of Birth17 August 1941
CountryNigeria
Ibrahim Babangida quotes about
It is only through books that we partake of the great harvest that is human civilization across the ages.
The return of democracy in our land has indeed thrown the problems of development into bolder relief.
I believe that historians and analysts of historical events need the authority of facts supplied by living witnesses to the events, which they make their subject.
It is of course the nature of historical contraction that the shortest distance to a historical destination is never a straight line.
Our choice of a reform framework dictated that we looked at the fundamental assumptions that had driven Nigeria's economy, society and policy hitherto and to seek ways of either abandoning or transcending those assumptions and their supporting institutions.
With each new book, the march of our national history takes a step forward. When one is present at a book launch, one is bearing witness to the birth of a new body of ideas, to the coming into being of another testimony of history.
The average Nigerian person has come to reconcile himself with the fact that his or her social progress remain essentially in his or her hands in collaboration with other fellow Nigerians and not merely relying on what government alone could provide for him or her.
There are no doubts that, the situation in the country today, indicates that there is much more work to do in the process of reforming the political economy and improving the quality of life of our people and communities.
But no nation can base its survival and development on luck and prayers alone while its leadership fritters away every available opportunity for success and concrete achievement.
We have established a new basis in our country in which economic liberalization would continue to flourish alongside democratic forces and deregulated power structure.
Most importantly, nothing has happened to change my conviction that freedom and the love of liberty remain the essential defining attributes of our national character as a people.
The work of Nigeria is not complete for as long as there is any one Nigerian who goes to bed on empty stomach.
Democracy opens new vistas and opportunities. We should use the opportunities it offers to correct past mistakes not to blunder anew.
Debate and divergence of views can only enrich our history and culture.