Former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, has spoken about his long-time relationship with former military ruler, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), and his efforts to move Nigeria from military rule to democracy.
In an interview with TVC News, Gana recalled how, during IBB’s time as Head of State, the government worked hard to educate and mobilize Nigerians about their rights, especially the right to vote. According to him, they made sure government policies were translated into local languages so ordinary people could understand and connect with them.
“We argued correctly that if you want to educate and mobilize people, you have to go right down to them and speak in the language they understand. That way, the message doesn’t just enter their minds, it becomes part of their culture,” Gana explained.
However, despite these good efforts, Nigeria’s transition to democracy during IBB’s rule was not completed. Many have criticized the period, but Gana urged fairness, saying IBB had a genuine plan and meant well.
“I think you have to be fair to him. He had a very elaborate program for a transition to democracy and placed the voter at the center of it. But there was tension within the leadership that affected the outcome,” he said.
Gana added a personal note, revealing he had known IBB since their school days. “When I say he meant well, I’m not just saying it. I’ve known him way back, he was my head boy in school.”
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