Residents of Abeokuta, the capital city of Ogun State, woke up to posters promoting the presidential ambitions of Ibrahim Babangida, on the morning of Thursday May 6, 2010. Angry, they began to remove the posters, whose sponsors are still hiding. “If those behind and responsible for the pasting of the posters are sure of what they were doing, why should they be hiding under the cover of midnight and odd hours to carry out the assignment? It is conscience that is worrying them,” said a man who gave him name as Baba Sule.
Abiola lost his life after spending a number of years in military detention during the struggle to reclaim his mandate.
No persons have so far claimed responsibility for the poster campaign in Abeokuta.
This is no surprise to some observers, who point to the residents’ negative disposition to the prospect of a Babangida presidency in 2011.
Many Abeokuta residents tore down the posters from the walls of their properties.
Similar poster-tearing operations were reportedly carried out by a number of traders, whose shops were defaced with posters. Speaking with NEXT, many expressed their displeasure over the military boss-turned-politician’s campaign brought to their doorsteps.
Entertain no fear
Another Abeokuta resident, Abayomi Omooseparo, an artisan, gave his reactions in the Yoruba language, saying, “If you do good, you need not entertain fear,” stressing that the elusiveness of the campaign promoters who worked under the cover of night, speaks volumes.
The posters, carrying an image of Babangida, came with the inscriptions: ‘IBB Movement 2011’, ‘Babangida For President; It’s our cause’. The posters also suggested the endorsement of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as they carried the party’s logo.
