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NMA felicitates IBB @80, commends strides in health sector

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), on Wednesday, felicitated with former President Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) on the occasion of his 80th birthday.
The association extended its congratulatory message to the former president in a statement signed by the National President, Prof. Innocent Ujah in Abuja.
Ujah commended the former military head of state for the strides he achieved in the health sector and wished him good health in the years ahead.
He stated that “it is memorable that it was Retired Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, GCFR that created the Medical Salary Scale (MSS) and the Medical Super Salary Scale (MSSS) and approved the allocation of land for the permanent site of the association in Maitama, Abuja.
“He also established the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to bring healthcare closer to communities and the downtrodden.
“These strides endeared him to Nigerian doctors and dentists who appreciated him by awarding him with the highest honour of Fellow of the Nigerian Medical Association (FNMA).
“It also marked him out as a quintessential leader who boldly attempted to stem the tide of medical brain drain by instituting a regime of improved welfare of our teeming members.
“With all these innovations, the former president made history for which he will ever be remembered for.”
Ujah prayed Almighty Allah to endow IBB with peace of mind as he lives to celebrate many more birthdays.
Born on Aug. 17, 1941 in Minna to Muhammad Babangida and Aisha Babangida, IBB received early Islamic education
before attending primary school from 1950 to 1956 and attended Government College, Bida, from 1957 to 1962
together with classmates Abdulsalami Abubakar, Mamman Vatsa, Mohammed Magoro Sani Bello, Garba Duba, Gado Nasko and Mohammed Sani Sami.
Babangida joined the Nigerian Army on Dec. 10, 1962, where he attended Nigerian Military Training College in Kaduna and commissioned as a second lieutenant as a regular combatant officer in the Royal Nigerian Army a month before it became Nigerian Army with the personal army number N/438 from the Indian Military Academy on Sept. 26, 1963.
The retired Nigerian Army general and politician served as military president of Nigeria from 1985 until his resignation in 1993.
Married to late Maryam Babangida (1969-2009), he has four children: Mohammed Babangida, Aisha Babangida, Halima Babangida and Aminu Babangida.(NAN)
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PANDEF Clarifies Visit To Tinubu, Knocks Wike Over Inflammatory Comments

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called on President Bola Tinubu to prevail on the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike to retract his publicly disparaging remarks made recently against the socio-political body.
PANDEF described as regrerrable and embarrassing comments by Wike in the aftermath of the group’s visit to Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, even to the extent of insulting the late former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin.
Recall that the FCT minister had, on Thursday, during a media chat, described PANDEF as “the worst organisation anybody can rely on”, while also calling the board of trustee members of the body “political merchants”.
In a statement signed by PANDEF Chairman on Saturday in Abuja, Ambassador Godknows Boladei Igali, urged President Tinubu as the father of the nation, to prevail upon the Honourable Minister to retract his inflammatory statements and extend due respect to these eminent.
Igali clarified that the meeting with the president provided a valuable platform to discuss pressing issues of national and regional importance. Adding that “PANDEF remains unwavering in its commitment to peace, stability, and equitable development in the Niger Delta. We will continue to engage with great vigour, all relevant stakeholders in pursuit of lasting harmony in Rivers State and the broader South-South region.”
His words: ^To set the record straight, PANDEF the foremost socio-political body representing the South-South regions, composed of some of Nigeria’s most distinguished personalities. The delegation to Mr. President included chairpersons of at least four of the six SouthSouth states’ traditional councils, senior traditional rulers of major ethnic groups, former governors, past presiding officers of the Senate, prominent entrepreneurs, academics, and high-ranking retired military officers.
“It is, therefore, highly regrettable and totally unacceptable that a serving minister in the Federal Government would exhibit such brazen disrespect towards individuals of this standing. This attitude perhaps explains his continued refusal of the Minister to engage with the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, which PANDEF constituted as far back as October 2024, despite repeated attempts to reach.
“The Honourable Minister (Wike) characterized PANDEF as the worst organization ever” and accused its members of visiting the Presidential Villa merely to solicit financial favors. These statements are not only false but also unbecoming of a public official of his stature.
“PANDEF hereby calls upon Mr. President, as the father of the nation, to prevail upon the Honourable Minister to retract his inflammatory statements and extend due respect to these eminent Nigerians and traditional rulers who were, after all, esteemed guests of the Commander-in-Chief. It is apt to remind that the Minister does not own the Niger-Delta and his errant conduct should not be condoned.
“Notwithstanding this regrettable development, PANDEF remains unwavering in its commitment to peace, stability, and equitable development in the Niger Delta. We will continue to engage with great vigour, all relevant stakeholders in pursuit of lasting harmony in Rivers State and the broader South-South region,” Igali stated.
On efforts to restore peace in River State, Igali restated PANDEF’s commitment for peace in the oil-rich State.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, which remains committed to resolving the Rivers State crisis,” Igali stated.
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