Speech of President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida on the occasion of the launch of Col. RSB Bello Fadile (rtd) ‘Nine Lives, Bello Fadile Memoir’ presented by his daughter, Aisha Ibrahim Babangida
In the pages of this book lies the testament to ideas and reflection that have shaped our nation, strengthened our communities, and inspired countless individuals to pursue a part of courage and integrity.
President Babangida has longed to be a voice for progress, unity, and a brighter future, and this work has encapsulated a lifetime of dedicated service and unparalleled insight.
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As I speak these words, I am deeply reminded of his steadfast belief that knowledge and thoughtful discourse have the power to transform our world.
It is this spirit of hope, resilience, and unwavering dedication to the truth that makes him share his works with all of us here today.
With great humility and love from President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and the vision this book embodies.
The ideas of Col. Fadile’s Nine Lives can easily be derived from his professional trajectory both as a gentleman officer and a lawyer of note.
Fadile falls in the category of those who invest time and energy into intellectual expression to enrich human history and the documentation of the same.
I am not surprised by Bello’s introspection chronicling his antidote into letting the truth out for the sake of humanity.
A journey that spans several decades covering fields of human endeavors, Bello Fadile, is one of the kinds. Straw, stake, and resilient. He’s also very prolific from his military career days when he needed to get permission to study Law and follow the academic ladder until he obtained his PhD in Law. His academic clamp helps him to deepen his knowledge about law and society, justice, and discipline.
Despite his tribulations in the military, he kept his eyes on the ball with determination and unshakable faith in his conviction to conquer the world around him.
He was brave, fearless, and courageous, and he is still in it.
He was a man of few words, but his depth and skills in terms of knowledge of operations and engagement were remarkable.
Nine Lives is not enough to capture the details of Col. Bello Fadile, especially in the twilight of his military career when he was branded into a fantom coup that sent him into solitary confinement. Even in the face of such tribulation, he remains undaunted and stools his ground, sticking to the best tradition of remaining consistent in the face of adversity.
Bello Fadile never gave up until he gained freedom at the onset of this democracy. His freedom from solitary confinement didn’t change his character, comportment, and resilience.
Like a jolly good fellow, he got into the system almost immediately and participated actively in insulted democratic engagement that birthed the fourth republic.
His rich intellectuality was his stimulation for deeper conversations around democracy and good governance.
Fadile’s love for knowledge often saw him taking permission to go for further studies; some of his superiors would easily turn him down or the request down, but each time, I came in handy, granting him access to go for further studies.
His knowledge helped us to navigate the politics of military administration in a world that was in dire need of democracy at that time.
His book, therefore, offers the reader the opportunity to gain insight into some of the decisions we took in those trying times in Nigeria’s historical trajectory from the civil war to our present-day democracy.
I would have loved to be physically present at the event to fully synchronize the beauty of age from old to the young in the military profession that I cherished so much; the discipline, the respect for authority, due process, and the ability to die set issues with multiple interpretations but keeping the eyes on the execution.
The military profession is no doubt one of candor, oral, and credibility whether in the past or present, I will always remain a patriot to the key that maintains the tradition that recognizes and respects constituted authority.
This book no doubt will remain a bridge reservoir of knowledge of some details the author encountered in his many years of serving his father’s land.
A Book of Nature will also offer a remarkable insight into his trajectory, near-death situation, risk-taking, and many plots he survived in trying to excel in many tribulations.
Bello Fadile remains an exemplary and dogged fighter using the instrumentality of law and order. His law profession came in handy each time he tried to engage in those risky ventures.
Thank God, thank God, Thank God, he’s alive to tell his story, in his way. It is also a documentation that will serve many generations to come and is highly recommended to each and everyone in Nigeria.
