From Iliyasu Garba, Minna

As former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, turns 75 today, he has sensationally stated that his worse experience in life was when he and his troops trekked several kilometer from Enugu to Umuahia, Abia State, during the Nigeria-Biafra war, while declaring that he is not the evil people think he is.
Speaking to journalists in Minna, yesterday, ahead of his birthday, Babangida said the long distance walk during the war was tasking, as his troop trekked non-stop to reach their destination on time.
According to him, “I think it was the movement from Enugu to Umuahia. It was very tough and challenging; you need to be physically fit to be able to undertake such thing because we were moving on our feet and we had to go through the jungle, mountains, hills and so on. It was the toughest experience I’ve ever had.”
Babangida said being a military officer was more challenging than being a military president, as according to him,  “being a military officer, you are leading men into danger; your life and their lives very much depend on you as the commander. Being the military officer, you are the only one with the troops; you are commanding. Their hopes are on you and if you read a situation wrongly, you will put everyone in danger.”
On why he consider being a military president less challenging, he said, as president, “you still have to seek people’s advice; you interact; you discuss based on the prevailing situation you find yourself.”
The retired General said he was misconstrued in the past, insisting: “I am not the evil that quite a lot of people consider that I am.”
He made reference to the allegation that he could not account for N12billion, as one of the bad things said against him, which is untrue, stating:  “I read somewhere sometime ago that they said I stole N12.8 billion and I said if I stole such a money, I had no business staying in the country; but those are the type of things that one has to live with.”
On his experiences since his wife died, Babangida said he has been able to cope with the support of his children.
“It has not been easy, but I thank God that I have children who show remarkable understanding and have been doing their best by trying to do what their mother was doing. I also have a lot of grandchildren and they take most of my time,” he said.
Read full interview on Page 32.