In a recent critique, investigative journalist David Hundeyin has expressed strong disapproval of former Nigerian military President Ibrahim Babangida’s newly released memoir, “A Journey in Service.”
Hundeyin took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account to advise potential readers against purchasing the book, priced at N50,000, suggesting instead, “look for a free pdf copy.”
“If you haven’t bought Babangida’s book, please save your N50,000 or look for a free pdf copy instead.”
He described the 369-page publication as “a complete waste,” criticizing its content as verbose yet lacking in substance.
Hundeyin’s assessment highlights his perception of the memoir as evasive and non-committal. He characterized the narrative as “mealy-mouthed” and “double-tongued,” asserting that it “answers no questions” and “says nothing definite.”
“It’s a complete waste of 369 pages. Full of words, but says absolutely nothing. Mealy-mouthed, double-tongued, answers no questions, and says nothing definite.”
This critique suggests a frustration with the memoir’s failure to provide clear insights or definitive stances on critical events during Babangida’s tenure.
Drawing a vivid analogy, Hundeyin likened Babangida’s attempt to recast his legacy to an aging athlete trying to relive past glories.
He stated, “Basically, this book is IBB trying to do the ‘Maradona’ thing again, but this version of Maradona is a boring 83-year-old in a wheelchair who still thinks he can outscore Mbappe.”
This metaphor underscores Hundeyin’s view of the memoir as an outdated and unconvincing effort to reshape public perception.
Hundeyin further criticized the memoir’s depth, describing it as “the literary equivalent of a Russian doll filled with nonsense.” This comment implies a layered narrative that, upon closer examination, lacks meaningful content or revelations.
