IBB @85: Compassion must not erase history

A Nigerian politician has publicly criticized another for defending the legacy of former military dictator Ibrahim Babangida. The politician, who advocates for social justice, stated that compassion should not be used to whitewash historical facts.

The exchange began when Datti Baba-Ahmed, chairman of the PRP, wrote a piece criticizing the politician's comments on Babangida's 85th birthday. Baba-Ahmed argued for "compassion" and personally attacked the politician, who had advocated for interrogating Babangida's legacy.

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Instead of confronting the historical record of Ibrahim Babangida’s dictatorship, Datti chose to deliver a sermon about “compassion,” while attacking me personally and attempting to whitewash a legacy that Nigerians have every right to interrogate.

The politician, who met Baba-Ahmed's brother, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, at a peace committee event, expressed pity for Datti's response. The politician noted that Datti Baba-Ahmed's family fortunes may have been shaped by the "IBB-era establishment," suggesting he might be one of the "Babangida Boys."

The article also recalls a previous confrontation between the two politicians at a National Peace Committee event during the 2023 elections. Datti Baba-Ahmed had challenged the politician's seating arrangement, claiming a seat for his presidential candidate. The situation escalated when APC candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrived, prompting a sudden shift in Baba-Ahmed's demeanor towards Tinubu.

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My own encounter with Datti was only once before now, ironically, also at a National Peace Committee event during the 2023 election cycle.