Mr Atedo Peterside
A NIGERIAN entrepreneur, investment banker, economist and the founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Mr Atedo Peterside has criticised General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), for allegedly making jokes and laughter out of the issues of June 12 during his book presentation.
Peterside made his observations during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics. He stated that such events should have created a somber moment. At least as a mark of respect to those who lost their loved ones during the tragic period.
Recall that on Thursday, former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida launched the book captioned, ‘A Journey in Service,’ in Abuja. The event attracted the crème de la crème of Nigerian society.
However, reacting to the atmosphere at the book launch, Peterside strongly condemned the former military president for turning June 12 into a comedy event.
He wondered how a moment of such national revelations should be turned into laughter, bantering, backslapping and even fundraising.
Peterside said, “I’ll just make one little observation that perhaps this time he has written a book with some detail. But it’s not the first time he has spoken about the events of June 12, 1993.
“And the interesting thing is that each time he speaks about the events and he explains things, the story changes slightly. So, if you say you take responsibility for something, people can respect that.
“But it’s a little bit strange if you take responsibility and it sounds as if you’re passing the bulk to those who have passed on.
“The book launch was a spectacle. But my personal opinion is that on a subject like that, we have to create a very somber moment without creating jokes, laughing, and backslapping.
“When we’re discussing the Holocaust, there should be no laughter in the room. If you’re discussing June 12, there should be no laughter in the room. Some of us were a little bit upset at the general mood of banter, laughter and so on.”
“We have to show respect to those, especially the parents who lost their children. Or those who lost their parents and so on.
“We have to be very careful. Because whether we like it or not, we have the responsibility to help to shape what is right or what is wrong. And to try and help to influence the youth. Whether we like it or not, in terms of demography, those of us who are above 65 years in Nigeria are just 5 percent.
“So, we don’t matter. Those that matter are the young ones. We have to be careful what lessons we are sending to our children and grandchildren. So, that hopefully, it can help to build a greater country.
“I would say that on the issue of June 12, I’m not impressed by coming out to admit something three decades later.
“Definitely, if you need to get some ghosts off your back or something, but let it be very somber. Make it appear like you’re mourning. Not the laughter, banter, backslapping, fundraising, raising large sums of money. At a time when many people are financially heartbroken and announcing the figures. I think we have to be a little bit careful,” Peterside added.
