(1) I got your letter informing me that you will be 70 on the 25th October, 2021. This got me reflecting on those long years when our paths crossed. I have come to appreciate your persona, sense of friendship, robust interaction and deep sense of patriotism in your belief of one Nigeria. My reflections are in part, informed by the kind of obstacles you have confronted, the “battles” you have fought and the breakthroughs you have made in the course of pursuing and sustaining your ideals and principles that make you what you are.
(2) On our numerous engagements and robust interactions, I know how worried, involved and concerned you have always been when it comes to championing national causes that would help to advance our national destinies. You come across to me an uncommon Nigerian, whose sense of patriotism to the Nigerian cause often defines your engagement. You are not only blunt and bold, your courage to define your role is what often endears you to me. As you often say, it is better for a man to nurture a belief, sustain appreciation of issues that keep factorising our collective aspirations as a people.
(3) At age 25, you were already a household name. Aside from your intellectual fecundity and brilliance, your creativity and initiatives are subject matter of how to dissect the unknown. I do appreciate that you are an engineer, but your intervention in different aspects of our national development, goes beyond your familiar turf, and as an achiever that you are, you have been able to make meaning out of them all.
(4) Your intervention in the broadcast industry is another milestone that was futuristically thought of during our days in government. I could recall your persistent pressure and the footnotes of your convincing argument. Why private broadcasting was desirable to remove governmental control and dominance, and also promote free speech. That decision taken by my government has endured the test of time. Your platform has become one huge spokesman for the masses. Aside from presenting the other view, the flip side, if you like, you have generously used your platform to promote unity and solidarity across boundaries. You have consistently fought for a free press under rain and sunshine, to make the point that Nigeria deserves a better flourish. You are not just a selfless Nigerian, you are priceless and in a world of your own; so enrgetic, forward looking, patriotic, and heavily detribalised. People of large heart like you are hard to find especially in a country that is gradually becoming polarised and further deepening the schism of ethnicity and dannishness. You are a thorough bred Nigerian who is at home with all manner of persons and shades of opinion.
(5) Let me use the opportunity of your birthday to express my gratitude and that of my children for the many interventions you have made in sustaining out history. Words alone cannot convey our deep sense of appreciation to you for always being a reliable pillar of support in our family engagements. Your magnanimity and generousity are without bounds. I thank you must humbly for your support always. Men like you are not easy to come by, and I am further encouraged by your sense of commitment to the common good. High Chief, thank you, thank you.
(6) Let me felicitate with you on behalf of Aisha, Muha, Aminu and Halima, as you celebrate your 70th birthday, such a unique age, for a unique persona with many parts. May the almighty God continue to grant you good health. For a country in trying times, a personality like your humble self deserves to be cultivated, celebrated, commended, and adored as an eponymous hero of this generation, and not to be hounded. You deserve to be encouraged not just as an employer of labour, but also as a strong voice that promotes unity across the divides. Congratulations on this remarkable age. Congratulations for bracing all odds to remain afloat in a country that is perpetually being challenged on all fonts. May your days on earth continue to resonate so much hope for the younger generation. You need to educate the younger ones how you have endured hardship to attain this Olympian height.
(7) Congratulations High Chief, and I wish you many happy returns.
Gen. I B Babangida, GCFR,
Former Military President
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