Former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, believes the world may have to wait for a century to have a leader in the mould of the just departed Nelson Mandela.
Babangida, in a tribute yesterday, said that with the death of the former South African president, the world has lost one of its best leaders.
The deceased, more than anyone else, he said, exemplified what good leadership is all about.
Babangida, who spoke to reporters in Minna, said Africa should be proud that God gave the continent a man and leader in Mandela whose life and time impacted humanity and the world at large.
“The world has lost one of its best leaders. We should take solace in the fact that his life and his time were something that everybody in the world should be proud of his achievements,” he said.
“Mandela had a moral conviction and his moral conducts was very, very high and powerful. He made sure that what he believed in he stood for it. I think those are very good lessons.
“He displayed one thing which is un-African: he stayed in power for one term which he thought was noble and he allowed the younger generations like Thambo Mbeki to take over from him.”
He said the late Mandela held Nigeria in high esteem during his life time.
“I recall that when he was released from prison, Nigeria was the first country he visited because of our role as one of the frontline states that helped to dismantle apartheid and installed a popular government in South Africa.
“Mandela held Nigeria in high esteem. This he acknowledged when he visited Nigeria.”
Babangida also spoke on his personal relationship with the Mandela family.
“About three weeks ago, his former wife (Winnie) sent her daughter to give me a book which she has just published and that shows you that the relationship is very, very cordial. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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You've spoken well IBB! I just keep imagining why a swollen fool like Doyin Okupe will compare Jonathan to Mandela! The difference between the two is like that between the earth and sky. If only GEJ knows that the najor problem he's having running a successful government is the people he's surrounded himself with as advisers and ministers. Eventhough he's going astray, they praise and encourage him simply cos they don't won't to lose their jobs.
ReplyDeleteWhy did you IBB became selfish,blinded and arrogant after eight years of ruling and looting and cancelled a free and fair election and allow Nigerians to pass through the horrors of Abacha?why did you ensure corruption is entrenched in all the fabric of Nigeria?while did you supervised the morsl breakdown and collapsed of institutions in Nigeria?
ReplyDeleteYou are one of the worst leaders Africa ever have because you disdain freedom and democrazy....you are not worthy to say anything about Mandela
"He displayed one thing which is un-African: he stayed in power for one term which he thought was noble and he allowed the younger generations like Thambo Mbeki to take over from him.”
ReplyDeleteIt is not un-African, just that people like u refused being true africans and gving room for the youths. Plss be civil and let ur cartails also be.
Ogunsuyi olakunle thank you so much,you have spoken well,IBB and core should cover there heads in shame because they had the opportunity to be Mandela of Nigeria but they fail.
ReplyDeleteOgunsuyi olakunle thank you so much,you have spoken well,IBB and core should cover there heads in shame because they had the opportunity to be Mandela of Nigeria but they fail.
ReplyDeleteWhen IBB dies what will people say about him ? His Doyin Okupes will bombard us with how he was d best to come out of Africa continent. ÌBB is shameless to comment on d person of d great Madiba. He presided over d worst regime that institutionalised corruption and no respect for d rule of law and people. African despot
ReplyDeleteDid IBB say Winnie's daughter came personally to deliver a book? What happened to courier services? Maradona of Africa at his best.
ReplyDeletestupid
ReplyDeleteleaders they ar nt even ashame of theirselves non of u can b compared
with a chicken nt 2 talk of MANDELA,rest in peace man.
IBB , you know so much and you didnt put an iota of these great qualities into action. You are not worthy to talk about mandela. At present, what have you done to right your evil deeds? What have u done to stop the evil of boko haram?Mandela fought evil. This country will be better when people like you are no more.
ReplyDelete,
I beg to defer sir, your statement about Mandela displaying what you said is "un-african" is totally unacceptable. i believe the "act" of not wanting to leave power is particular to the people in government now, so don't generalize it to all of us.
ReplyDeleteI however like your comment about him (Mandela) moral and conviction. we are indeed proud to have him in Africa.