Former military head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida Babangida has denied any involvement in the assassination of foremost journalist Dele Giwa during his tenure.
He said his government had nothing to do with it and he believed that one day the truth would be uncovered.
Babangida said in his autobiography, “A Journey in Service”, which was launched on Thursday in Abuja.
An excerpt declaring his innocence from the book reads, “The hysteria of the media did not help the investigation of the Giwa murder. As is typical of the Nigerian media, the direction was marked by an adversarial attitude towards the government, which had remained the hallmark of the Nigerian media from its colonial heyday.
“It was an attitude of ‘we versus the government’ that has remained today. It is a situation in which the government is adjudged guilty even before the evidence in a case is adduced.
“When the Obasanjo civilian administration reopened the Giwa case at the Oputa Panel on Human and Civil Rights, I expected that the police and lawyers would come forward with new evidence as to their findings on the Giwa murder over the years.
“Nothing of such happened. The Giwa, like all mysterious murders, has remained unsolved after so many years. I keep hoping it will be uncovered in our lifetime or after us. More often than not, mysterious crimes are solved long after their commission.”
News Band reported that the Nigerian business elites announced about N17.5 billion in donations to the IBB Presidential Library project, unveiled during the launch of Babangida’s autobiography.
Leading the list of donors was billionaire industrialist and philanthropist Abdul Samad Rabiu, who announced a N5 billion contribution.
The event which was attended by President Bola Tinubu and other prominent figures from politics, business and academia, took place at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton.
The IBB Presidential Library Project, modeled after similar institutions worldwide, aims to preserve historical records, promote research, and advance leadership development in Nigeria and across Africa.
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, donated N2 billion and pledged to add N2 billion annually over the next three years, bringing his total to N8 billion, while former army chief and minister of defence TY Danjuma pledged N3 billion.
Billionaire businessman Arthur Eze also supported the project with N500 million.
In his remarks, Mr Babangida hailed Mr Rabiu for supporting the project from the very beginning, adding that his commitment was critical in bringing the library’s vision closer to reality.
Moreover, according to the promoters, the IBB Presidential Library is designed as “a national institution that will serve as a repository of Nigeria’s arts, political, and military history.”
They said the library would preserve the evolution of leadership and governance in the country, especially during Mr Babangida’s eight years in power.
The Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta is the only one of its kind in Nigeria yet.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo chaired the book presentation event, and former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo delivered a keynote address.
Three former Nigerian leaders, Yakubu Gowon, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Goodluck Jonathan, and former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Koroma, attended the event.
Former vice presidents Atiku Abubakar and Yemi Osinbajo also attended while senior aides represented former President Muhammadu Buhari and Mr Danjuma.
However, in his remarks, President Tinubu stressed the importance of documenting Nigeria’s leadership journey and Mr Babangida’s impact on the country’s history.
Mr Osinbajo provided a detailed review of the book, which offers rare insights into the former leader’s time in power, including the controversial annulment of the June 12, 1993 election.