The InfoStride Forum

Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, on Wednesday, lamented that he lost friends to his feud with former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

General Babangida told newsmen in Minna, Niger State, that what the media quoted him as saying against the Obasanjo-led administration was not what he meant, even as he said the media "overheated" him.

Babangida, who was on a sallah visit to the Tunga, Minna  residence of the acting governor of Niger State, Honourable Musa Ibeto, in company with another former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, said "the press, not politicians, are responsible for the heat in our national polity."

On their  way out of the premises, Abdulsalami had enjoined the media to be mindful of their reportage, asking them to avoid reports that could cause disaffection in the nation's polity.

However, when informed that politicians' outbursts and actions might be responsible for the overheating of the polity, Babangida interjected, saying "no, no, you (journalists) are the one overheating the polity; even recently, you overheated me."

Referring to the heat that was generated following reports that IBB condemned the eight-year tenure of Obasanjo, describing the period as a waste, the former military president said he never meant it the way it was reported.

Babangida insisted that Obasanjo was still his boss and would remain so.

Hmmm! I thought it would be no retreat no surrender. It is good that IBB is loyal to his boss as he said but if there has been any contract comments, the press would not have heated it up. Anyway, this is good for Nigeria. It shows the spirit of maturity and sportsmanship in IBB.