Former military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida has come under attack
over his twitter comment on job creation. The former Head of State, who ruled
for eight years
from 1985 to 1993, in his twitter handle, @General_Ibbro, said:
“The work of Nigeria is not complete, until every unemployed graduate gets a
job.”
Some prominent Nigerians including erstwhile chieftain of the National
Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Chief Frank Kokori, National Chairman of African
Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Ralph Nwosu and National Publicity Secretary,
Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Mr. Yinka Odumakin differed on Babangida’s
position.
While some described him as a failure desperately looking for relevance,
others were of the opinion that though he failed during his tenure on job
creation, the message was cogent and needed to be quickly addressed else
unemployment might pull the country down with time.
Kokori said it was either Babangida is looking for a way to launder his
image based on what is happening to the country or rather just feel like
talking. According to him, “Babangida being an absolute military leader during
his regime had every opportunity to transform Nigeria with the enormous wealth
accruable then but he failed. I think he should just bury his head in shame.”
Kokori, a former General Secretary, National Union of Petroleum and
Natural Gas Workers Union (NUPENG) also added that serious minded Nigerians
should no bother to take him serious over the call because he created most of
the problem the country is going through today.
He however added that unemployment is a challenge that must be addressed
as urgent as possible in the country. Nwosu, on his part said it was true many
Nigerians including himself used to be very critical of Babangida until he
owned up to his mistakes by saying if he had another opportunity he would have
done differently.
According to Nwosu: “For Babangida to have owned up, unlike other leaders
who saw their actions and policies as impeccable, he had demonstrated humility,
which must have triggered his twitter comment.
“As a matter of fact, no reasonable person would feel unconcerned about
the high rate of unemployment in the nation today.” Odumakin said the messenger
does not matter in this sense but his message.
“Whatever Babangida must have done was in the past, we should be bothered
about the message and the implications of the issue he is trying to address.
Unless we tackle the challenges of the army of unemployed youths in Nigeria,
the country may be heading for the rock.”
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