Former presidential candidate, Gbenga Hashim has narrated how he moved from being General Ibrahim Babangida’s victim to become his ally in nation-building.
While commenting on IBB’s new book and the controversy generated by it, Gbenga Hashim clarified that he was neither a praise-singer nor a beneficiary of Babangida’s government, recalling his strong opposition to IBB’s regime and imprisonment under Decree 2.
However, since 2004, following mediation by the late Governor Abdulkadir Kure, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, and Dr. Esther Uduehi, he had come to appreciate Babangida’s qualities beyond politics.
“IBB is an enigma. Despite our differences, I have come to admire his humility, simplicity, and deep love for Nigeria’s unity. To him, national unity is like a religion,” he said.
Gbrnga Hashim also disclosed Babangida’s pivotal behind-the-scenes role in ensuring Goodluck Jonathan became President under the Doctrine of Necessity during Nigeria’s 2010 political crisis.
“He asked me to fly in from London when some interest groups were working to prevent Jonathan from becoming Acting President. I ran errands between him and Baba in Ota. I was with IBB till 1 a.m. the night Yar’Adua was being brought back into the country.
“We worked with Senate Leader Teslim Folarin and Senator Pulka, who represented Jonathan’s camp. The rest, as they say, is history.”
Gbenga Hashim stressed the urgent need for Nigerian leaders to acknowledge past mistakes, arguing that a culture of accountability and reconciliation was essential for national progress.
He said: “As a nation, we need to apologize to some people so we can close the chapter on hatred and move forward. The victims of the first coup, including our founding fathers, those affected by the counter-coup, and various crises in our history—these wounds need to be addressed. Nelson Mandela worked with De Klerk to reconcile South Africa. We must also work hard to bring our country together.”
With Babangida’s recent public admission and apology, discussions around leadership accountability, historical injustices, and national unity have gained renewed momentum.
Whether other Nigerian leaders will follow in his footsteps remains to be seen, but Gbenga Hashim’s remarks underscore the importance of reflection, reconciliation, and healing on Nigeria’s political landscape.
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