Sowore noted that IBB’s legacy is not one of nation-building, but of decisions that deepened corruption and undermined Nigeria’s democracy.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has taken a swipe at some Nigerians celebrating former Military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (retd.), popularly known as IBB, who turned 85 on Monday, 17 August.
He disagreed with those hailing the former military leader late on Monday in a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) page.
IBB led the country as a military dictator for eight years, from 1985 to 1993, before being forced to step aside and hand over to a civilian administrator.
He had conducted what is touted by many Nigerians as the most credible election in the country’s history on 12 June 1993, only to turn around and annul the presidential poll—widely believed to have been won by the late business mogul, MKO Abiola.
While celebrating IBB’s birthday, President Bola Tinubu praised his impact on Nigeria’s political, economic, and geographic landscape, noting his role in state creation and infrastructure development.
Others who congratulated him included former Nigerian military head of state Abdulsalami Abubakar; the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar; Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago; Abia North Senator and former governor Orji Uzor Kalu; and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, among others.
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Reacting to the felicitations, Sowore agreed that Babangida “lived long”, but quickly added that he “was no longer living well”.
He went on to allege that Nigeria would not have deteriorated to where it is today without IBB’s “wickedness and selfishness” in the exercise of power.
The activist further asserted that the legacy of the former military leader was not one of nation-building, but of decisions that deepened corruption, undermined democracy, and left generations of Nigerians paying the price.
Taking to his verified handle, Sowore wrote: “Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, the man who did Nigeria dirty, is being celebrated by his cronies on his 85th birthday.
“He lived long but is no longer living well; but had he not been so wicked and selfish in the exercise of power, Nigeria would not be where it is today.
“History should remember not just the birthday celebrations, but the consequences of the choices he made while holding power that ruined Nigeria.”
