Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida is still alive and kicking. Last year people were posting pictures of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and making mockery of his current physical condition. Most of them didn’t make it to this year. But IBB is still alive and kicking.
The man lived his full life. In a nation where at least 500 million people lived through generations, only 14 were privileged to be presidents and Babangida was one of them. His biggest failure leading the nation to its freeist election and annulling it later. Babangida is human. Humans make mistakes. I have forgiven him for that.
But even my critical mind can’t deny that Babangida was an effective leader,the man that built Abuja,Third Mainland Bridge and Abuja-Kaduna-Kano express. No new city was built after Abuja to date.
He was born in 1941 and became president at age of 44 years. Most of us were nothing at that age and we will not be presidents in life. Today Babangida is 78 years old in a nation with life expectancy of 46 years. Somebody at that age is a fulfilled man.
Instead of mocking IBB, let us think of our own future as most of us will not live to be 78 years. Those mocking old age should remember those that never had the chance.
Don’t laugh at his sickness, because when you get to that age you will also be sick,everyone at that age is a patient,it is the law of biology.
We must age, become sick, waste and die with time. Chronic diseases start catching people at the age of 30 years.
Let us pray and wish Babangida more years and good health.
By Aliyu Nuhu
