By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has congratulated former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, on his 85th birthday, describing him as an elder statesman whose life and service occupy an important place in Nigeria’s contemporary history.
Idris, in a statement issued on Monday by his Special Assistant (Media), Rabiu Ibrahim, said Babangida’s military career, national leadership and subsequent role as a statesman represented a significant chapter in Nigeria’s political and institutional development.
According to him, decades after leaving office, the former Military President has remained engaged with issues of national importance, particularly those relating to Nigeria’s unity, stability and development.
The Minister said Babangida’s experiences in leadership and public service constitute a valuable reservoir of knowledge from which succeeding generations could draw lessons on the complexities and responsibilities of nation-building.
Idris also acknowledged the former military leader’s continued faith in Nigeria and his interventions in support of national cohesion and peaceful coexistence.
“General Babangida remains an important voice in our national journey, and at 85, we celebrate his service, his statesmanship and his enduring commitment to a united Nigeria,” the Minister said.
He wished the former Military President many more years of good health, peace and fulfilment, while praying that he would continue to enjoy the affection of his family and the goodwill of Nigerians.
Babangida, who served as Nigeria’s Military President from 1985 to 1993, remains a prominent figure in the country’s political history.
