Obasanjo has been a major beneficiary of Babangida’s political machinations. First, he disarmed Buka Suka Dimka at the NBC studios in Ikoyi thus foiling Dimka’s rebellion and installing General Obasanjo as Head of State in 1976 after Dimka had assassinated Murtala Muhammed. Then in 1993, he was the first to visit Obasanjo in Otta to suggest that he run for the post of president after Abacha had died suddenly. The convenience of Abacha’s unexpected death made the manner of his death suspect till this day. And since no one except Abacha’s immediate family and political hangers-on mourned Abacha, the manner of his death is now part of history.
Babangida is one soldier who knew exactly what he wanted and worked for it. He did not wake up on August 17, 1985 to call himself President for nothing after ousting Buhari. It is clear that he had given it a lot of thought prior to the coup. So, he was the most prepared for the post.
Most importantly, Abacha’s death effectively brought Babangida back to the fore by perhaps being remotely involved in the installation of one of his most loyal comrades – General Abdusalami Abubakar as the Head of State. Abubakar is IBB’s next door neighbour on the Minna Hill. You don’t get to be that neighbourly unless you are close. In other words, IBB was back in power! So, Babangida would not have suggested the presidency to Obasanjo had Abubakar not sent him. Or, put in another way, had both of them not agreed that he be offered the post! So, Babangida was president by proxy.
As president for eight years, IBB had come to assume that the post of president was his birth-right reserved for him and his appointees only. This was why he said he was making a personal sacrifice by “stepping aside” when he did! Even his wife had begun to be so swollen headed that it was rumored that she had slapped a federal minister. Babangida had been an ardent fan of Chile’s Augustino Pinochet and even Indonesia’s Surhato, two of the world’s brutal dictators. These two were his heroes.
So, he annulled Abiola.s election and plunged us into the political abyss where we have been till date. No atonement of any kind. No contrition. Indeed he said he had no regret whatsoever implying that he would do it all over if given the chance! He rolled back our political development by no less than 50 years and our economic advancement by just as much. He, along with Abacha, brought out from us all the primordial fears of old. He, even more than Abacha, brought to the front burner issues thought to have been settled. He exacerbated the problem of ethnic division in the society. In other words, he left us worse of than he met us politically, economically, socially and developmentally.
Babangida is a lucky man. In other climes, he would be no more – literally and politically speaking. President Chaucheski of Romania was executed along with his wife for no greater offense against his people. William Tolbert of Liberia was disemboweled by Samuel Doe and his men after he was toppled. And Doe’s ears were sliced off and he suffered castration in the hands of Yomi Johnson. As for Ghana’s Rawlings, he simply lined up all Ghana’s former leaders and executed them! But tyrants never learn from others. It can never happen to us, they all say.
So, in spite of his record he wants to be Nigeria’s president again. And he is not short of political hangers-on who urge him on daring history to repeat itself. Come to think of it, IBB can hardly be faulted for wanting to come back to be president. 13 years after leaving office with ignominy, he is regarded as messiah by a section of his people. The incumbent president conferred the land’s highest title of GCFR on him. The party in power shows him off as a political asset worthy enough to be paraded! One political party even reserved the presidential slot for him!
But thank God for some of us that are still sane. Thank God for a president like Obasanjo who does not like to share the honour of being given such a unique opportunity of ruling his country twice in his life. Thanks to the almighty, that we have a president who has no qualms at “atikulising” anyone. IBB is now check-mated. He is caged at least for now.
For those who think IBB will heed Obasanjo’s admonitions and go to Minna quietly to sulk, they do not yet know IBB. IBB did not call himself the “evil genius” for nothing. No one treats IBB like that and gets away with it. The presidency is his birthright and no one, not even an OBJ can deny him his right. So, he must go back to the drawing board.
At the drawing table, IBB did not have to wait long. The first person visited by Yar’Adua after his nomination was General Babangida! It is not known whether the visit was to assure IBB that he was still in good hands despite the rebuff OBJ gave him. Whatever the reason for the visit, it is an ominous sign of things to come under Yar’Adua presidency. So, he has to work on Yar’Adua. And if Yar’Adua is like Shagari as I suspect he is, IBB does not have anything to worry about. Yar’Adua will turn out to be IBB’s boy. So, OBJ did cage IBB. But he has given the key to Yar’Adua for safe keeping.
IBB’s only worry is Buhari. The fear of Buhari is the beginning of wisdom. Buhari does not forgive. He takes all infractions against his government personally.
So, to cage IBB and do a good job at that, Obasanjo has to do it himself. Or allow Buhari to take over after him. There is no question that Buhari will curb IBB’s excesses. If this is the only reason why I must support Buhari, then I must. IBB must not be allowed to be Nigeria’s president again. Not even in his dreams!
