Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has said under the leadership of former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, Nigeria witnessed substantial growth, particularly in the financial sector.

He said Babangida played a key role in fostering a united and equitable Nigeria, and economic landscape, ensuring policies that strengthened national cohesion and economic development.

Obi also hailed Babangida's contributions to Nigeria’s economy and his strong support for entrepreneurship and private sector growth

Obi said this after the launch of Babangida's autobiography, A Journey in Service, on Thursday in Abuja.

Speaking of the book, Obi said, "Documenting such experiences is a welcome development, as it allows us to learn from those who have served and left a lasting impact on the nation. I look forward to reading this book, which undoubtedly holds valuable lessons. As someone committed to continuous learning, I will always align myself with knowledge drawn from documented experiences and historical records as well as contributing to the legacy library.

"Two Key Takeaways from the Keynote Address and IBB comment on the 1993 election.

"The 1st is the keynote Speaker's notable quotation in French, "Rien n’a changé" meaning "Nothing much has changed." In the case of Nigeria, we are worse off than we were during IBB’s era. Using our contemporary peers as a benchmark, when IBB left office in 1992, countries like Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, and Ghana were all in the low Human Development Index (HDI) category—just like Nigeria. Today, however, these nations have advanced to medium and high HDI levels, while Nigeria remains in the low HDI category, having either stagnated or declined.

"The Keynote speaker's comment that Ghana has remained a truly democratic country for the past 30 years, with leadership transitions that reflect the genuine votes of the people. Unlike Nigeria, where electoral outcomes often fail to reflect the people’s will, Ghana has witnessed instances where ruling party candidates conceded defeat, respecting democracy in its truest form."

He also hailed IBB’s admission that Chief MKO Abiola won the June 12, 1993, election, saying the acknowledgement is a step toward national healing, unity and progress of the nation.

"I hope that one day, other key players in Nigeria’s democracy will find the courage to recognize the true winners of past elections, allowing our nation to tell its story with honesty and reflection," he concluded.

ASA