Reeling out the reminiscences of his administration about 31 years after, a former Nigerian Military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, has reacted to the tag of “an evil genius” pinned on him while in power and his failed attempt at making the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi his friend.
IBB as he was fondly called said he simply learnt to accommodate criticisms in handling his critics who labelled him as ‘an evil genius’.
The octogenarian ex-military leader made this known on “Inside Sources with Laolu Akande” aired on Channels Television on Friday.
Persecondnews recalls that in addition to the appellation of an evil genius, Babangida, who overthrew the then Major General Muhammadu Buhari’s military administration on December 31, 1983, was also called “Maradona”.
One of the strident critics of Babangida’s government at the time was the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, a legal icon.
Describing the late Fawehinmi as a good critic, the Minna-born soldier said he tried to make the human rights activist and lawyer his friend but did not succeed.
He said: “If we come up with a policy, my first question to my staff was: What would Gani Fawehinmi say?
“I like listening to him. I made it a point to become his friend. He was very friendly with one of my former ministers, the late Alex Akinyele; they were very good friends, and (Alex) he tried to make us very good friends.
“He (Fawehinmi) is a good critic and he doesn’t want to be seen with someone that people already perceived as ‘an evil genius’.”
Fawehinmi, who lived April 1938 to September 2009, was said to be detained about 17 times during the regime of Babangida, who was Nigerian head of state between August 1985 and August 1993.
Babangida also said he had eyes for talents as Nigeria’s head of state and went for the best minds.
He said he convinced many bright minds to become members of his cabinet by telling them it was in the interest of Nigeria’s development.
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