His Excellency, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd) is a former army head of state. IBB as he’s fondly referred to as, on this interview with Search FM, a Campus Radio, spoke on a big selection of issues- his childhood, army actions and the civil war. DAILY POST correspondent, Priscilla Dennis monitored the interview.
What was it like rising up in Niger State or because it was referred to as again then, the Niger province?
Well, I feel it’s…I used to be first born right here in Minna. I can’t predict the place you (college students) had been in 1941, but it surely was in 1941 within the month of August. I additionally began and completed my main college training right here in Minna after which went to Bida the place I completed secondary college earlier than becoming a member of the Army and obtained army coaching on the Nigerian Military Training College in Kaduna, Military Academy in India and so many different army establishments.
From there, I proceeded to senior main college and on the completion of main college training, I went to Bida Provincial Secondary School, the place I spent six years earlier than becoming a member of the Military Training College in Kaduna.
Joining the army formed how the remainder of your life turned out, what knowledgeable the choice to enlist as an officer?
Well, perhaps to grasp the background, in about that interval there was a deliberate authorities coverage. The authorities of Northern Nigeria at the moment, there weren’t a lot of individuals from the North who had been within the army. So, it took a deliberate coverage to go round and invite the youthful era from secondary faculties, [government colleges] to return and be part of the army and that’s what began our profession within the army.
You had been in lively army service during the Nigerian civil war. In reality, you sustained a life threatening damage, what was that experience like?
It’s not a very good experience I have to say. First of all, you had folks you went to highschool with, folks you educated with, individuals who had been your friends, all of the sudden as a results of the war, you discover yourselves going through one another on reverse sides. It was not very comfy however then, we needed to do it. The objective was to unite the nation to maintain it one to not break it. So that’s the uniquely sad side of a civil war and I pray, it by no means occurs once more
If you hadn’t joined the army what would have been an alternate profession alternative?
I wished to be a civil engineer.
Your Excellency, you’ve held numerous positions of authority, together with being Nigeria’s primary citizen, what’s your management model?
Just like some other model, you’re positioned in a management place. Your job is to guide folks. You develop a scenario the place folks look as much as you to offer sure options to their issues or to their concern, no matter it’s and also you stand out as the one who will have the ability to do this. So it’s a must to examine human beings, it’s a must to examine them and it’s a must to be very compassionate.
Sometimes ruthlessness to get issues finished, however there are a lot of how it’s a must to develop so that you simply’ll have the ability to obtain sure issues. Others you plead with, some you coerce and so forth and so forth
You have a lot extra free time in your palms after retirement, what do you get pleasure from doing now?
Watching you youngsters develop
You have achieved a lot over the course of your life and profession, however when you had been to rank your achievements, which might you contemplate your prime three biggest feats?
Top three?
Top three
Number one is that I served the nation the very best I may, it is probably not to your satisfaction, however to the very best that I may. I go away that to historical past to evaluate and I associated pretty nicely with the folks of the nation. I had no drawback with them and I obtained to know the nation extra as I used to be nicely travelled. I made friends everywhere in the nation and I assumed that was one of many biggest achievements.
What recommendation would you have got for younger people who find themselves nearly to start out out of their lives?
I feel my solely good recommendation for all of you is to attempt as a lot as doable to know and perceive that you’re going to lead this nation sooner or later. You have a possibility now as younger folks. Get to know the nation, examine the nation, the folks and if you’ll be able to do this or to grasp that, mainly I feel that may go a lengthy strategy to put together you for the eventual management of the nation
Your Excellency, on a lighter notice, in 2021 a biopic was launched about your life – ‘Badamasi: The Portrait of a General’, was the biopic an correct illustration of occasions?
