President Bola Tinubu caused laughter at the public presentation of the autobiography of former military head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida in Abuja on Thursday when he relayed an encounter of “courage and boldness” with the military head of state in 1993, hitherto revealed in 2022 to political correspondents of that era in their book titled “Nigeria’s Aborted 3rd Republic and the June 12 Debacle: Reporters’ Account.”

President Ahmed Bola Tinubu had revealed in the book of how former President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida commended him for “courage and boldness” after he spoke on behalf of the elected Senators of the Social Democratic Party, SDP calling for the inauguration of the National Assembly which was being delayed by the military government.

Speaking about the incident at the launch of the book, “A Journey In Service: An Autobiography – Ibrahim Babangida,” President Bola Tinubu recounted the 1993 encounter at the International Convention Centre, Abuja, where initially he was not expected to speak.

“We were at the international conference center. I was not entitled to make any comment, but I was listening in a radical manner that this man will not inaugurate us again,” said President Bola Tinubu.

“But when I was summoned by Dele Cole to make a remark, I confronted you (Babangida) that you had an opportunity to make history, and that you failed to do it. Why not inaugurate us? Why are you calling us back and postponing the inauguration day.”

“They thought I will end up in jail.”

“You came right to me at the end of your remark and shook my hand. I can’t forget that day. That’s an inspiration that is so impactful in my own life.”

In 2022, before his election, President Bola Tinubu in an interview with two members of the National Association of Political Correspondents, NAPOC, Gboyega Amoboye and Bosun Oluwabusayomi for the book “Nigeria’s Aborted 3rd Republic and the June 12 Debacle: Reporters’ Account” said “Babangida (a general in the military and head of state) was to inaugurate the National Assembly. The media referred to the situation as diarchy.

“They didn’t want some of us in SDP to go to the inauguration. Then I cited one word from late Chief Obafemi Awolowo that, ‘a boycotter is a loser.’ If we didn’t respond to Babangida’s inauguration, when the media was calling it diarchy, then we might be the loser to the other party, National Republic Convention, headed by (Chief Tom) Ikimi then,” he said.

“We were interested, so we went. We were in the majority, and I was very vocal that the majority party must have the leadership of the Senate, and we must be inaugurated. So, we got there. The military postponed the inauguration. I was chosen to speak for SDP, while another elected senator was picked from the East to represent the NRC.

“I was frontal with the military government, that they have a great opportunity to return Nigeria to democracy. We have been elected and there is nothing you can do about it; you have to find a way to inaugurate us and then plan your exit. We ended that discussion, but we were not inaugurated.

“However, General Babangida did one thing that impressed me. As critical as I was, when the president finished his remarks, nobody talked. He came down from the podium and gave me a handshake, which is uncommon with military personnel and said, “I like your courage and boldness. We will definitely inaugurate you but it’s not today.’

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