Buhari’s Absence from IBB’s Autobiography Launch Sparks Political Commentary.
By Our Reporter.
Former Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism in Niger State and All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain, Jonathan Vatsa, expressed his lack of surprise regarding former President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to skip the public presentation of General Ibrahim Babangida’s autobiography, “The Journey of Service,” held in Abuja.
Vatsa suggested that Buhari’s absence is tied to unresolved feelings regarding the 1985 coup that ousted him from power.
In a press interaction in Minna, Vatsa remarked, “It would have been nothing short of a miracle if former President Buhari had chosen to attend the book launch.”
He emphasized that the deep-seated memories of betrayal and personal grievances, including his detention by Babangida, remain fresh for Buhari.
Vatsa noted that this incident denied Buhari a chance to pay his last respects to his late mother.
The book launch attracted an array of notable figures, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, and several other prominent leaders and governors.
Vatsa claimed that Buhari’s decision to avoid Niger State during his eight years in office corroborates his previous statements about the former president neglecting the region despite substantial electoral support.
He asserted, “The world knows that Buhari made Niger State a scapegoat because of IBB. He neither visited the state nor initiated any federal projects there. The Baro port project, which has recently stirred political discourse, remained abandoned during his tenure.”
When asked about his perspective on Babangida’s autobiography, Vatsa indicated he would reserve his comments until he thoroughly reviews its contents.
“There are certain insights I anticipate from the book; I urge you all to wait until I have read it. At that point, I will invite everyone to discuss it further,” he concluded.
