Babangida’s N17b Presidential Library Should Be Converted To A ‘Hall Of Shame’

Barely a week after former President Ibrahim Babangida launched a book, ‘A journey In Service’ to raise funds for his proposed Presidential Library, a pro-democracy and rights activist, Omoyele Sowore says the Library should be converted to a ‘Hall of Shame.’

The book was launched last Thursday, attended by leaders across the country including the immediate past president of Ghana, Nana Ado Akufo amidst cheers and jeers from many Nigerians.

The event has continued to generate mixed reactions days after it was launched.

According to Sowore, there’s nothing to be celebrated about the former head of state’s decision to establish a library, saying Babangida’s decision to raise funds for the project was a ‘scam’ because “he was never elected, how can someone who was not elected build a presidential library,” Sowore affirmed.

He added, “I don’t think he’s even building a library, but I think he should do something……….so we can convert it to a hall of shame for all of them.”

Sowore’s remark comes on the heels of the celebrations of the Autobiography by Nigeria’s elites, including former heads of state such as Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo,Goodluck Jonathan, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the book launch in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

In spite of the controversy that has trailed the book, a whopping N16.9 billion was raised for the building of the  project by Nigeria’s high and mighty, including Africa’s Richest man Aliko Dangote who donated N6 billion.

“I will contribute N2b annually for the next four years, which is N8b to the development of the IBB Presidential Library. If the project drags more than four years, I will continue to pay N2b every year,” Dangote said.

Other donors include BUA Chairman, Rabiu Abdulsamad, Founder of the TY Danjuma Foundation, General Theophilus Danjuma 9rtd.), who donated N3 billion; Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, donated N50 million; business man Arthur Eze donated N500 million; and Mustafa Chike-Obi donated N100 million, amongst others.