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 Published
September 6th, 2010
General Ibrahim Babangida may or may not be surprised at the
level of hostility against his presidential ambition, given
his own antecedents. He is rightly known as the evil genius
or Maradona not least because of his schemes and strategies
that always saw him outsmart people, even the Nigerian
nation in times past. Whether he would be able to achieve
the same this time remains to be seen. But any sensible
dignitary of his status should at this stage be advised to
withdraw from this process. Much have been said and written
about why this man should not even dare to contest the next
presidential election (2011) in Nigeria. Whether he would
heed the warnings of individuals and groups of people
against his idea again remains to be seen. As part of his
attempts to gain the favour and support of many in the land,
he has now been campaigning vigorously for zoning so that he
might benefit from it. Zoning or no zoning, Babangida at the
age of 69 cannot deliver to Nigeria in a complex democratic
context what he failed to deliver in his 8-year rule as a
military dictator.
It is not my intention to repeat all that has been said
already but only to highlight once again the fact that
Banbangida has by his own antecedents undermined any
argument for his return to rule Nigeria. His record as the
one who legitimised corruption is not one to overlook
easily.
More recently, it came almost like a joke when Babangida who
desires to be a democratic president decided to determine
what kind of questions to ask or not ask from him. To
imagine that this could happen at all is an indication of
the kind of person that he is. This is not only hypocritical
but also insulting. To suggest there is a grey area on which
questions might not be asked is to show his lack of
understanding of what democracy is all about. It is a
manifestation of his instinct and ability to deceive; it
also exhibits further his dictatorial credentials. It is
high time he knew that Nigerians will not be taken for
granted by him any more.
Apart from issues of corruption, the annulled election of
1993 and the associated human cost, the so many wasted
lives, and his age, all of which are vital issues; by his
democratic credentials, General Babangida (rtd) does not
deserve to rule Nigeria again and this must be told. In
talking about his age, this is the same man who has
literally destroyed the youths of Nigeria by closing down
universities for a long period during his regime. He has in
fact insulted Nigerian youths by suggesting that there were
no capable youths to lead Nigeria. Even if Nigeria were to
zone the next president to the north, there are better
people in the north than to allow the dangerous Babangida,
the evil genius of all times, access to the presidential
villa again. It should not happen and sensible Nigerians
should stop this happening.
What about his democratic credentials? Without ignoring the
importance of other arguments against the ambition of
General Babangida, it is his democratic credentials that
make most-compelling evidence against him. Here, I shall
just mention one. In 1999, Nigeria made history by electing
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as its president, bringing to an end
many years of abusive and despotic military rule. Soon after
its take off and in its attempt at clearing some of the mess
of the past and in order to begin a process of the
much-needed reconciliation, our democratically elected
government instituted the Oputa Panel. Many people were
invited to testify before the panel. Even the sitting
president, Obasanjo was physically present to give evidence.
However, General Babangida not only refused to attend this
panel, he also went to court to challenge it. What would
have been a good opportunity for Nigeria to deal with some
of its horrible past and to begin a genuine process of the
much-needed reconciliation was scuttled by the evil genius,
Ibarahim Babangida. We continue to wonder why he would do
this if he had no skeleton in his cupboards. Whatever his
reasons, Babangida’s refusal to appear before that panel and
his rush to challenge it in the court of law is an
indication that the man Babangida has no respect for
democratic governance. Nor does he respect the wishes of the
majority of Nigerians who elected that government. If he
could not abide by the provisions and arrangements
instituted by a democratically elected government, then it
would be foolhardy to imagine that he can be elected as a
democrat, not unless he is seeking anarchy as every Nigerian
would then have a right to disobey his government. The
implication of that would be better imagined than
experienced.
Even if Babangida is the only one who is willing to stand
the next election in Nigeria, the Nigerian people must look
to bringing up another credible individual who can rescue
the nation from the locust of destruction that has been
affecting the development of our country. Babangida should
in his own interest and in the interest of Nigerians
withdraw from this process unless of course, he wants to
play the role of the proverbial Yoruba Sigidi (a lifeless
sculpture or idol), when he wants to be disgraced, he would
ask to be allowed to dance. But everyone knows that he
cannot perform as he has no life in itself. In Babangida, I
see another Sigidi who might just be ready to be disgraced.
If he cannot remember the late Moshood Abiola, Nigerians
should remind him that he has done enough damage to our
system and that we can no longer take the risk with him as
our president again. We cannot toy anymore with the future
of young Nigerians. We have had enough of the evil genius.
Nigeria rejects Babangida and all well-meaning citizens
should reject him not least for the many evils that he has
committed against the Nigerian people.
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