The acting governor of Niger, Yakubu Garba, has felicitated with former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida, on his 83rd birthday.

Mr Garba, in a statement by his press secretary, Ummikhaltume Kuta, in Minna on Saturday, described IBB “as a bridge builder and father of modern Nigeria.

He said Mr Babangida, popularly known as IBB, facilitated the realisation of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to its enviable status as a brand new city in Africa.

“IBB is an institution that transformed Nigeria from its former conservative achievement to a more elaborate progressive and improved infrastructural development that spread across the federation,” he said.

Mr Garba described IBB’s view of development “as a designed project, which saw governance as a necessary design project that proceeds on the basis of some constitutive ideas and principles.”

Mr Garba recalled that IBB restructured the economic perspective of Nigeria, which later metamorphosed into the largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa.

He prayed Allah to grant IBB good health and strength and more fruitful years ahead.

IBB was born on August 17, 1941 and ruled as military president of Nigeria from 1985 to 1993.

(NAN)