by Sunday Odeleke
“May we live in interesting times” is a popular Chinese prayer. Nigerians, no doubt are living in an interesting time even if the interest is not the desired one. Or how best can one describe a time when the president and his deputy have practically abandoned the business of the state to pursue their personal interests, though their occasional appearances on national television stations mischievously give impression that all is well with the nation.
The other day, the editor of a national daily concluded in his column that one of the following three happenstances are likely to end the current debacle between the president and his vice. 1. That Atiku had splited Obasanjo’s milk and probably spited his (Obasanjo’s) face with the split, so he may drop the tenure extension project. 2. That Atiku’s case is like that of a man who is down that fears no fall again, so he may drop his presidential ambition. And 3. That the president may punish Nigerians by ensuring that Ibrahim Babangida succeeds him for their refusal to support him for another term.
The one that attracted the curiosity of this writer is the last one of IBB taking over from Obasanjo come 2007, the consequence of which may spell the final doom for Nigeria. An attempt to look at what the webmaster encyclopedia says about Nigeria few days back should be a source of worry to every Nigerian about what IBB stands for; the concluding part of Nigeria’s description is that the country had a ruler called General Badamosi Babangida who used his tenure to initiate and promote official corruption in the governance.
This certainly is not the first literary material that will showcase IBB as corruption personified, but the interesting part of this is that IBB is included in the meaning of Nigeria as a corrupt nation, what a shame. It is known all over the world that Nigeria parades the highest number of stupendously wealthy military generals without credible sources other than their unwholesome ability to hold their people hostages through coups and counter coups which enables them greedily sit over their prosperity and well being. IBB is the leader of this pack. If properly investigated, all the resources that would have been used to turn things around for the people of Niger Delta in particular and Nigerians in general are in the safe custody of these generals. Their days of reckonining are numbered I hear some readers murmured.
With the setting up of Oputa Panel, Nigerians had thought that some past rulers would use the opportunity to remove the swords of Damocles hanging over them on their past misdeeds, IBB was the prime among past rulers that Nigerians expected at the panel, but he resorted to legal gymnastics to scuttle his appearance, Nigerian roared, but IBB and a few past rulers were bigger than all Nigerians including Obasanjo who himself threw his presidency garb aside to appear before the panel twice. So IBB missed that golden choice to re-write his name in the nation’s history, but now he want to rule the same people that he scorned and shunned.
IBB’s sins against the country and its people are legion but the only one easily remembered is the annulment of the 1993 presidential election that was adjudged the freest and fairest in the history of our national life, if he had not done this and handed over to the winner of that election, Nigerians would have forgiven him because that would have atoned for his sins which included but not restricted to: the contentious murder of Dele Giwa, the outright stealing of 12 billion USD Gulf oil windfall, the Ejigbo cannibalization of promising military officers, the destruction of our educational and health systems, the institutionalization of corruption in governance and government, the brazen muzzling of the media and media practitioners, the wicked throwing up of few millionaires at the expense of the hapless and the helpless citizenry, the badly implemented structural adjustment programme that rendered the nation’s economy comatose and our currency valueless; this list is endless.
For Nigerians to allow IBB again to rule them will showcase the ability of a people that lack sense of history, a people that are averse to decency and good reasoning. There are no doubts that the world will poke a good fun at us if we allow IBB again.
While spirited efforts are being made to stop Obasanjo from elongating his tenure, we must not loose sight of another looming danger if Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida returns as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is the same measure of resistance that Nigerians should show Obasanjo and IBB presidency come 2007. We have no time left, because the forces we are facing are fierce and swift; the time to commence the war is NOW.
Sunday Odeleke
53, Trans Amadi Layout Port-Harcourt.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
53, Trans Amadi Layout Port-Harcourt.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
