“As a Muslim, whether you like it or not, you will die with time and I cannot exceed a certain time.”
Babangida, who recalled the recent rumour that went round that he was dead, said that such rumour is not new in this country.
“They did it to former President Shehu Shagari, to former President Nnamdi Azikiwe and other elder statesmen.”
The former President, who spoke to news men in his Minna mansion, Niger State, to mark his 75th birthday on Tuesday, said that by the virtue of training as a military officer, it is mandatory for him to love people, adding: “I believe I have a very excellent background.
“My feeling is, I can understand that by the virtue of the job I was doing, I am bound to be misconstrued and people will take it that way. But I consider it as their opinion.
“Since, I am not what you thought I am, I feel satisfied.”
On the alleged N12 billion oil wind fall, which he was accused of having taken away as the military president in 1992, Babangida humorously stated: “If, I have so much money, I will not live in this country.”
Babangida also said that his toughest encounter in the Army was when he trekked from Enugu to Umuahia where he sustained injury during the Nigeria civil war.
“Movement from Enugu to Umuahia was very tough and challenging because you need to be physically fit to be able to undertake that kind of journey on foot.
“We had to go through the jungles and the hills.
“I think it was my toughest encounter in the army because that was where I got wounded in April 1969.”
The former President said that he joined the army for the purpose of helping to protect the internal and external integrity of the country.
According to him, as a military person, one must subject oneself to a constituted authority, adding that the constitutional roll and international treaties made it possible for military personnel to serve anywhere in the world.
The former military president said the military job was more challenging than being the president of a country.
“If they have faith in you, they follow you. If you have faith in them, you go along with them.
“So, it is more challenging than being a president.”
Babangida said that as a president or Head of State, one has to seek people’s advice, interact and discuss with them to get solution based on the prevailing circumstances.
“Being a military officer, you are the only one leading your troops, hoping on you.
“If you lead them wrongly, you will kill many of them.
“So, I consider the military more challenging than the political job.” [myad]
