When President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida picked the PDP presidential nomination form seeking to contest the presidency come 2007, though belatedly many Nigerians breathed a sigh of relief, especially his teeming supporters who have been rooting for the "evil genius" to declare his intention a long time ago.
It would be recalled that Babangida had led a mammoth crowd of supporters to the National Secretariat of the PDP where he obtained his expression of interest and nomination forms of the party. For his teeming supporters, it was like, as they say, the chicken has come home to roost.
His entry into the race had set off fresh calculations within the rank of the party just as new alignments were introduced into the contest for the PDP ticket.
But, typical of IBB, who is seen as a formidable force in terms of popularity, network of influence and political relevance, whose stock in trade is keeping Nigerians in suspense over his political intentions, he, barely days after his stormy declaration, threw in the towel. A world press conference by IBB has since been postponed or shelved.
Media reports had it that Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, after due consultation with President Olusegun Obasanjo, and considering the enormity of the hurdle to his presidential bid, has decided to call it quits by resigning from the PDP.
Babangida, according to the reports, was said to have opted for seeking his presidential ambition on another platform rather than the PDP, citing the need to provide leadership and a platform for his followers who are desirous of his return to power in 2007.
Already, there are clear indications that he may have decided to nurture his presidential ambition on the platform of the Nigerian Democratic Party (NDP), for it is on record that the gap-toothed General has said that he would rather lose the presidential election rather than chicken out.
The NDP, in 2005, gave Gen. Babangida the ticket to run on its platform. The United Nigeria People's Party (UNPP) had also endorsed his candidature, while the Democratic People's Party is also disposed towards an IBB ticket.
Political analysts, however, are quick to indicate that Babangida quieted because of what he considers a moral dilemma in contesting for the PDP ticket with some of those he considers his subordinates.
Before now, many have speculated that Babangida might withdraw from the presidential race at some point and back a close ally of his, Gen. Aliyu Gusau (rtd) for the top job. Many Nigerians are wondering why, in spite of Babangida being privy to Gusau's interest to also run, he still went ahead to pick a nomination form.
The PDP has however confirmed its preference for candidates other than ex-military leaders and said it has already narrowed down its 2007 flag bearer to a select few, of which Babangida and Gusau are not among.
Babangida, who has never failed to remind President Obasanjo about the sanctity of their unwritten agreement in 1999 was said to have been shocked when he learnt that plans have already been perfected to disgrace him at the PDP primaries, should he continue.
Close associates of IBB have been quoted as saying that he merely joined the race to dispel the insinuations that he will not contest and also to keep his foot soldiers, who have been campaigning for his comeback since 2002, together.
Babangida still commands respect and enjoys loyalty amongst many of Nigeria's professional politicians who have since made his Minna residence a Mecca of sorts for incumbent and rookie politicians. Former Information Minister, Chief Alex Akinyele, while reacting last week to Babangida's call-off campaign, debunked the story. "I want to tell you it is not true. As the commander-in-chief of his foot soldiers, if he is no longer interested, he would have told me. He would have told other prominent people that we should wind up the campaign."
But the bad news is that even if Babangida succeeds in winning the election, under whatever platform, his government will face a lot of opposition from non-politicians, students, the civil society and religious leaders, due to his past actions.
The realization of the fact that many Nigerians have vowed not to forgive him, not only for June 12, but also for his inability to give the country a solid direction throughout his eight-year rule, is seen as a major stumbling block to his presidential ambition.
Moreover, the Mamman Vatsa issue, which was televised for a week running on network, is said to have sunk deep into the psyche of the womenfolk, who say that the confessions of Vats a's wife left a sour taste in their mouth regarding Babangida.
A new group, Againstbabangida.com, has vowed to use the internet to mount the most articulated campaign against any politician in Nigeria's history.
However, some people have said that Babangida's quest is couched in Machiavellian patriotism. commentators argue that Babangida feels that he may have been hounded out of office 'prematurely' and was stopped from completing his social engineering programme.
Some other commentators (mostly IBB loyalists) still maintain that IBB wants to come back and set the records straight and redeem his image at the same time.
Whatever posterity may have in store for Nigerians come 2007, questions over IBBs entrance into (or exit from) the presidential race, are still on the lips of Nigerians and are still begging for answers.
Does IBBs quitting the PDP now signal the end of his political career? Did he have premonition that PDP may not accommodate his ambition, and therefore made a deft move to 'save his face' before he's humiliated by the party?
Imam, wrote in from Plot 31, N close, Lugbe FHA, Abuja.
