Former military dicator, General Ibrahim Babangida, will in about three weeks release a campaign manifesto that will be so grand that a lot of Nigerians will be misled, Againstbabangida.com has just learned from political sources. The scale of the promises will be so big, "there will be nothing comparable to it in Nigeria's political history," the sources added.
It is expected that IBB will make an official declaration of his candidacy between two to three weeks from the end of June. Preparations have hit the feverish pitch to make it a lavish and an extra-ordinarily grand event. In preparation for the event, IBB's crumb-gatherers such as Alex Akinyele and Omo Omuruyi have been circulating with various statements meant to flag attention to the event.
To completely fool Nigerians about his plans to change the country's fortunes, Babangida has been eating up every big name in the ruling PDP. Those already felled include the wife of the PDP bigwig, Mr. Tony Anenih. PDP National Women's Leader, Josephine Anenih, is being recruited to mobilise women nationwide.
Others won over by cash power include former PDP National Publicity Secretary, Venatius Ikem, who heads his campaign publicity and former National Youth Leader, Bibi Farouk, appointed as National Organising Secretary.
Babangida is being equipped by dubious but erudite political science professor, Omo Omoruyi, who was lured from the United States, where he held a prestigious academic appointment with a reputable university in Boston, just to work on the campaign to return Babangida to power.
While observers noted there is nothing in IBB's past, present or future to put him on an intellectual par with Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikwe or even, Ahmadu Bello, he is believed to be preparing to outdo the nationalists, by presenting a manifesto that will be large on ideas, and promise Nigerians everything under the sun.
He believes is that most Nigerians are ready to buy any idea that will promise a better future, when carefully presented to give the appearance of reality. Babangida, having been in government since his youth, relies very much on his understanding of national policies and politics, and thinks, once again, he can get a message across that Nigerians can fall for like he did with SAP in 1987.
He will particularly capitalize on any weakness of the policies of the Obasanjo administration to make his most potent points.
Meanwhile, Babangida's loudmouth, Alex Akinyele, has said the split within the PDP is the cause of the delay of his master's formal declaration. Fielding questions from assembled journalists, Akinyele said, "You don’t expect a person of General Babangida’s calibre to jump without carefully studying and analysing the environment. Though, he is a card-carrying member of PDP, unfortunately, the party has been factionalised to the extent that we have about three factions now. The question is which of the faction would he follow? Is it Atiku’s faction? Is it Ali’s faction? Is it Lar’s faction? So the situation is very dicey. And as you’re aware, his friends and loyalists cut across the three factions.
"Also other parties are seriously courting him like a beautiful bride because of his track record and pedigree. So, you may say that Babangida has become the only major issue in the nation’s political terrain," he said. Akinyele, said there is a probability that a coalition of political forces and groups may endorse IBB’s, but he did not say for what reasons.
He debunked the speculation that Babangida had dropped his ambition to return to power Akinyele, told newsmen that: "It is not a question of whether he is contesting or not. I have told you, he is already in the race and there is no looking back.
He believes is that most Nigerians are ready to buy any idea that will promise a better future, when carefully presented to give the appearance of reality. Babangida, having been in government since his youth, relies very much on his understanding of national policies and politics, and thinks, once again, he can get a message across that Nigerians can fall for like he did with SAP in 1987.
He will particularly capitalize on any weakness of the policies of the Obasanjo administration to make his most potent points.
Meanwhile, Babangida's loudmouth, Alex Akinyele, has said the split within the PDP is the cause of the delay of his master's formal declaration. Fielding questions from assembled journalists, Akinyele said, "You don’t expect a person of General Babangida’s calibre to jump without carefully studying and analysing the environment. Though, he is a card-carrying member of PDP, unfortunately, the party has been factionalised to the extent that we have about three factions now. The question is which of the faction would he follow? Is it Atiku’s faction? Is it Ali’s faction? Is it Lar’s faction? So the situation is very dicey. And as you’re aware, his friends and loyalists cut across the three factions.
"Also other parties are seriously courting him like a beautiful bride because of his track record and pedigree. So, you may say that Babangida has become the only major issue in the nation’s political terrain," he said. Akinyele, said there is a probability that a coalition of political forces and groups may endorse IBB’s, but he did not say for what reasons.
He debunked the speculation that Babangida had dropped his ambition to return to power Akinyele, told newsmen that: "It is not a question of whether he is contesting or not. I have told you, he is already in the race and there is no looking back.
