- Arthur Eze joined a powerful assembly of Nigeria’s political and business elite to celebrate one of the nation’s most respected statesmen, General Babangida at his highly anticipated book launch.
- Eze didn’t hold back, delivered a heartfelt tribute to IBB’s monumental influence on his flourishing business empire.
- And in true flamboyant fashion, he made sure everyone at the event knew just how deep his pockets ran, announced his generous donation with a flourish.
Nigerian billionaire and energy magnate Arthur Eze, CEO of Atlas Oranto Petroleum, set the event abuzz at General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s (IBB) book launch by pledging a staggering N500 million.
The autobiography, A Journey in Service, was unveiled in grand style in Abuja on Thursday, February 20, drawing Nigeria’s political and business heavyweights, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and a constellation of billionaire tycoons.
Arthur Eze took to the podium with characteristic flair, painting a vivid picture of IBB’s profound impact on his rise to business prominence.
His voice laced with nostalgia, as he recounted the former military president’s sacrifices and guidance that helped transform him into the powerhouse he is today.
As he announced his half-a-billion-naira pledge, all eyes turned to Babangida and Tinubu, who shared a knowing smile, captured perfectly by videographers eager for the moment.
WATCH EZE SPEAK IN CLIP BELOW
Eze’s generosity was just a drop in a deluge of donations that saw Babangida’s coffers swell with nearly N17 billion.
Aliko Dangote led the pack with an eye-watering N8 billion commitment, spread as N2 billion annually over four years. Abdulsamad Rabiu made a thunderous statement of his own, launched the book with a bold N5 billion.
Other titans, including the enigmatic Folorunsho Alakija, also contributed, though some chose to keep the exact figures under wraps.
Beyond the glamour and generosity, Babangida’s revelations in his autobiography sent ripples through Nigeria’s political landscape.
He candidly admitted that the late Chief MKO Abiola won the June 12, 1993 presidential election, confessed that its annulment remains the most agonizing decision of his life.
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