The president and the governors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have the obligations and constitutional powers to turn the horrible life in Nigeria into a manageable state of affairs for the citizens to live in comfort. My recent trip to Nigeria was more than eye opener than l could have envisioned. My impression and conclusion were that the nation is without leadership at local, state and federal levels.
Evidently, the leaders lack the commonsense and skills toward improving standards of living of their citizens. l was in the state of awe as l watched average citizens battle with hunger and frustrations to the excitement of the leaders, who in their comfort zones, treated and continue to treat their subjects with wickedness.

lt became more ridiculous as l watched these leaders and their cronies drove recklessly, blaring sirens shamelessly on dusty highways with punctuated potholes, feeling the sense of accomplishments. A trip to some medical establishments concluded that Nigeria lacks patriotic leadership as many structures resembled poultry farms where pigs are kept. It was the greatest neglect any legitimate government can perpetrate on her citizens. It was a rape of democratic process to allow the status quos to remain unabated.

At that juncture, l was obliged to ask: Where is the oil money? Why is it that no one is paying attention to the narrow roads with pot holes all over the place? What is so difficult in awarding contracts and making sure that the jobs are executed professionally and on time ? What is actually wrong with Nigerian leaders ? Do they really have brains at all? Why is it so difficult to construct a safe highway, separating the interstate highways to minimize head on collisions that occur almost daily on the highways? What is happening to oil money ? How about constructions of water treatment facilities in cities in order to ensure steady flow of water supply to boast public safety ? If the assumption is that the country lacks the technical know how to construct such project, why not ask for help from advanced countries in order to minimize the plights of the citizens?

Why should the citizens be punished for being loyal to their country ? Why can't Nigerian leaders make little efforts to improve the lives of their loyal citizens, Why ? How about electricity ? For the past forty-five years, The country has been and continue to be plagued by endless power interruption every day. In countries with high volume of electricity usage, power tends to flow uninterrupted, but in Nigeria where two third of households have no big item machinery to consume power, still, power gets interrupted daily.

As a consequence, productivity is inadequate; no storage facility to store staple foods beyond harvesting seasons and the government remains adamant and unperturbed. The president and the governors must address these issues once and for all. There is money in the country to effect these changes because the citizens deserve the best from their government.

How about airports ? l have heard several excuses that our airports lack the navigational gadgets to effectively allow airplanes to land at night. What a silly and nonsense excuses to give in a country that produces over 2 million barrels of crude oil daily ? l was shocked beyond belief that the so-called Port Harcourt International Airport has only one runway, not taking into consideration that the airport is located at the seat of country's economic heart and soul. This is practically unacceptable. It was criminal to learn that Air France Jet, landing at the very airport with over hundred passengers narrowly escaped disaster when it came in contact with about 7 cows straying on the tarmac. The accident was attributed to absence of fencing in and around the airport. It was bizarre and unimaginable that an establishment of this magnitude remains wide open to stray animals.

Where is the oil money extracting from the nearby oil wells ? How can Nigerian citizens allow their elected officials to insult their intelligences as if the population is made up of bunch of zombies ? The government should utilize the resources extracted from Nigerian soils to develop the country. The Nigerian monies are not meant for Swiss and other Europeans banks.

The status quo must change.

How about healthcare facilities ? Every leader that travels to overseas formedical treatment is being hypocritical. If the medical infrastructures they put in place at one time of their governance is acceptable and commendable, why seeking treatment overseas ? Why can't they transform Nigerian hospitals into modern day facilities with the state of art equipments ? If their stewardship is great, why seeking medical attention abroad ? These leaders have no shame to travel overseas to enjoy what their counterparts had built.

The money is in the country to improve the citizen's standard of living but instead of doing the right thing, these self-styled leaders would buy houses from almost every city in the western world.

Responsive governments develop initiatives round the clock to improve standard of living of her citizens. There are no initiatives in the country on the establishment of emergency medical services in the States and cities. There is no plan in motion to reform medical sector to include
emergency medical services and equip cities with new ambulances to transport the sick to the hospitals. No initiative to train emergency medical technicians and paramedics/first responders to respond to emergencies. At the scene of any accident in the country, people are not trained on what to do. There is no first aid in place to administer to the injured. No emergency vehicle to transport the injured to the nearby medical facility. In most cases, light injury transforms into
life threatening episode due to lack of governmental initiatives to tackle such events. The same lack of vision is applicable to villages in the country. A pregnant woman in labor cannot receive any help during medical emergency unless her relatives have a car or bicycle to transport her to the hospital, enduring dust, poisonous fumes from burning tires and pot holes on the way. In most case, the pregnant woman dies due to exhaustion and fatigue, including lack of infrastructure in place to assist her.

Yet, our leaders invest only on themselves, boasting on having countless of homes, hotels, uxurious buses and accepting chieftaincy titles from one city to another. The money is in the country to improve our citizen's standard of living had the leaders choose to do the right thing. l lack the knowledge to understand why our leaders treat our people with disdain. I do not understand where the leaders are going with all the stolen money in their possession. I thought the Abacha dilemma would be a great lesson for the future embezzlers, but l was wrong.

The administrations of IBB and Abacha witnessed the oil boom as revenues shot to the roof. Instead of improving Nigerian standards of living in all quarters, these leaders chose to decimate the revenue meant for development into personal treasury; thereby, taken the country to unforgettable journey of hardship and suffering. The country started its decaying experiences, ndiscipline, breakdown of law and order took the center stage. l am deeply worried at IBB's intention to canvas for votes again. This man had 8 solid years to change Nigeria for good. He had the golden opportunity to transform the country into a heaven. He had the opportunity to create wealth and attract international investors. He had the wherewithal to improve and revitalize the economy to the fullest. He made decisions by himself in form of decrees and passed it over to his cronies to be rubberstamped. He had every tool to himself to set his legacy beyond reproach, but he chose to do the contrary.

History will remember him as a leader who had the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of Nigerians but blew it away like peanut chaffs. The country must not vote for him to rule Nigeria again. He has proven beyond every doubt that he does not possess the skills and patriotism of a leader. His leadership skill is inimical to present day Nigeria.

The country needs a vibrant, assiduous and patriotic leader who believes that the population deserves to live in clean environment, drinks clean water, enjoys steady flow of electricity after a day's hard job, receives quality medical treatments, good roads, consistent payment of salaried workers and pensioners, creates job, revitalize the economy, return schools to private wnerships and pay serious attention to our academic systems. ln my humble opinion, IBB does not have the
administrative acumen to march the country to stardom. The country must reject him to its ntirety. He is not the leader the country needs at this time. He mooned Nigeria for 8 years and shattered our psyche.

For decades past, Nigerians have and continue to endure abject poverty, lack of security and abuse from their governors and presidents. lt is pertinent to remind the leaders that the immunity clause in the Constitution is different from judgment by the masses. The Otokoto saga in Owerri, Imo State, was a clear testimony of the people's judgment. The citizens of Owerri watched in utter disbelief as bunch of rotten 419 tugs turned their once beautiful and quiet city into den of sacrificial alters, killing men, women, infant and children for economic gains. These tugs roamed the streets unchallenged with the complicity of the military and police. When the verdict was passed by the masses to take back their city, the rest was history. The citizens attacked all 419 establishments and the tugs took to their heels. The president and the governors should remember the public revolt in the Philippines that toppled the dreaded Ferdinand Marcos; Romanian Revolution with Nicolai Cescescsue, and the most recent public verdict in Ukraine.

The Nigerian leaders continue to take loyal citizens for granted and if the abuse should continue unabated, they should be rest assured that a day of reckoning is looming around the corner. They should bear in mind that when the judgment is passed on them by the people, their ill-gotten wealth would surely be a target. It is beyond my scope of knowledge why our leaders think that the people does not deserve to live in clean environment whereas State Houses and Presidential villa are equipped with steady flow of clean running water and stable supply of electricity. Their premises have giant generators to pump out water constantly whereas their subjects are drenched in sweats, cooking under temperature up to 100 degrees; in most cases without ventilations.

What baffles my soul is that Nigerian Government is not spending a dime for any natural disaster, but the leaders cannot invest on the people. The only natural disaster that faces the country is erosion and they have no answer to combat it. These leaders cannot pay their State workers on time; the pensioners are languishing in pains and no unemployment benefits to the jobless. Again, what are the leaders discussing in their so called executive council meetings?

Speaking directing to the president and governors: Time has come to be a true leader. Start investing on your people. Start to spend 100 percent of monies allocated to your state to improve lives. My recent trip to Nigeria compelled me to award you all the grade of F minus. In my own book, you all deserve to be prosecuted and jailed. We are answering
giant of Africa for (mouth).

We emulate the bad from America and throw away the good part. You governors and president have no shame. Every two month, your ministers and commissioners are in America and European countries, buying up all real estate properties you can lay your filthy hand on, neglecting your own country. Are you not ashamed that your people are dying like flies due to lack of maintenance, hunger and disease? You Mr. president and Mr. Governor, why not go into the kitchen and cook with temperature over 100 degree? If you think you don't deserve such environment, what makes you think your subjects deserve it?

Be a leader and serve your people. Stop converting people's money into your personal property. You all have failed Nigeria woefully. What a shame ! Your abuse and neglect are becoming unbearable for the masses and behold, a day of reckoning is fast approaching.

The slightest thought that General Ibrahim Babanginda is planning for a come back to Nigeria polity is not sitting well with me as well as millions of other Nigerians who wished he had received the J.J. Rawlings's style of punishment for crimes against the loyal and law abiding citizens of our great country. Mere thought of his participation in the political process turns my stomach in the cyclonic pattern like someone feasting on a fermented bowl of black eye peas with offensive odor.
The questions raging like a wild fire in the hearts and minds of patriotic Nigerians must be: Why is he coming back and to do what? I will try in this article not to be misconstrued as a political opponent but a neutral citizen of Nigeria who will objectively and passionately enumerate few points why Nigerians should reject Babanginda's candidacy, even as a Local Government Area Chairmanship and much more the presidency. It appears that the unbelievable damage and excruciating pains he inflicted on the masses during his 8 years of silly rule were not enough for him to complete his loot.

Before I proceed pointing out his devastation while in office, I have a special appeal to present to the General and felt he would be obliged to listen to the words of wisdom. The general, as a matter of urgency, returns all the billions he siphoned out of Nigeria, apologize to the country for all the atrocities attributed to his administration; the execution of Mr. Dele Giwa without due process, the nullification of election results of June 12, renounces his filthy ambition of trying to cajole and ridicule Nigerians for the second expedition, and more so, throw himself to the mercy of the court for prosecution. There and then, patriotic Nigerians, like my humble self, would have the audacity to plead to the court to temper justice with mercy on him. Until then, Nigerians should reject him, his cosmetic smiles and bag-carrying cronies to its entirety.

The perception of a civilized mind in a civil society, politically speaking, entails that a leader who governs with the admiration of the populace and heard the screaming of the people to come back must do so to complete the programs already started; but when such scenario is contrary, the wise will heed and goes away gently, but the fool continues to chase the shadow. This is applicable to Babanginda because he is oblivion to quit when demanded. He is a fool if he can not comprehend and analyze the handwriting on the wall that the nation does not want him near Aso Rock. As a matter of fact, he deserves the same treatment given to Nicolae Ceausescu of Romania during the country's popular revolution in 1989. In many countries of the world, General Babanginda would have been prosecuted, and if luck shines in his corner, would receive lifetime incarceration with hard labor. The Okigbo Commission clearly identified him with looting Nigerian treasury. Couple of years ago, a vice premier in one of the provinces in China was executed after the People's Court found him guilty of asking for a $2oo,000 bribe, not even embezzlement of the fund. Babanginda should thank God everyday that he lives in a country where corrupt leaders are not held accountable for embezzlement, but rather, treated and recognized as national heroes.

Nigeria should emulate Chile that stripped the Tyrant, General Augustus Pinochet, his presidential immunity and prosecuted him for crimes against his country irrespective of age and status of limitation. If Indonesia can do the same to dreaded Suharto; South Korea to despotic Roo tee Woo, and thanks to the courageous blessed memory of Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, who chased the replica of Babangida in person of animalistic and carnivorous Uganda's mad man, Idi Amin Dada out of office, l wonder why this general should go free. The man needs to be disgraced, humiliated and spit upon for all his crimes against Nigeria .

The nullification of June election in which late Chief M.K.O Abiola clearly won the election should serve as a catalyst to strip any immunity bestowed on him and prosecute him to the full extent of the law. Hs insulted the nation with a stroke of a pen and tarnished the image of the Nigerian Armed Forces. He wasted the resources and manpower used to plan and execute a nationwide election – an election dubbed by international observers and Nigerians alike as the fairest and most decent elections ever held in the history of the country. He mockingly laughed and made mockery of Nigerians while hiding in the holes of Doddan Barracks with arms and armaments, waiting frighteningly to unleash an onslaught on defenseless citizens if they had dared challenge his treasonable action.

If the gap- toothed general denies looting and milking the country dry, where did he get the millions he spends lavishly everyday in his bid to buy his tenancy at Aso Rock ? Where did he get the money to build the million dollar home he lives in Minna? How about his personal university? This man really finished Nigeria and there is no excuse to grant him another chance at all. If one put the number of years he served as in his capacity as a dictator into account and calculate his salaries for 8 years; a fool who failed primary six will surely come to a conclusion that the man, indeed, bankrupted the nation without any atom of doubt. Personally, l resented what this man did to my country. Under his leadership, Nigeria society commenced its decaying processes. Lawlessness emerged as a national pride of a country. He ushered in the infamous and devilish “419” economic voodoo, thereby dragging the nation's name into gutters before the world community. He frightened foreign investors and perpetuated unemployment machinery in motion that continues until today.

Under his leadership, the country's infrastructures dilapidated to the lowest ebb; crimes and indiscipline became a norm in the society. The nation's roads became death traps and corruption was adopted as Nigerian motto which continues to hunt the country with infamous rating as the most corrupt nation in the world and he felt unperturbed. If the man has any atom of shame in his little brain, he should not show his face in public. I truly believe that he belongs in Kirikiri. Nigerians should reject him and his stolen money that belongs to the masses. I am very optimistic that one day he must surely face the justice he denied countless Nigerians like Dele Giwa. I must not forget what his administration did to many Nigerians in Diasporas and school leavers back home. I resented the fact that this man has the gut to ask the country to vote for him whereas he had a long 8 year rule of waste and infliction of pains. What is he smoking to think the country could be fooled for the second time.

I am deeply honored to join my fellow Nigerians here at AGAINSTBABANGIDA.COM to create awareness that Nigerian citizens should, and rightly so, vehemently oppose this man who has no shame at all. I will vote anytime to strip him of the so-called national award given to him for looting. This man does not deserve to be awarded anything other than prison time. As a matter of fact, all those who participated in the military coups that destabilized an elected democratic government, should be stripped of any national award bestowed on them. Any how, this could be a different topic altogether. All the sycophants clamoring for Babangida's return are doing so for one reason only – to milk the man dry as he milked the nation of Nigeria . This man does not deserve a second chance not even in the next world.

Just recently in Kaduna, the former Chief of Staff, Nigerian Army, General Victor Malu, rtd. while addressing delegates attending a conference of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) remarked in his own words, ""l regretted not overthrowing President Olusegun Obasanjo's government while l was in service...may be l was loyal to Obasanjo, l would have done what l was supposed to do; but l believed in democracy. So l did not organize to overthrow him...go to Southwest zone of the country and see the economic empowerment of the region...besides the case of Plateau which is still going on, our children, sons of the North are being used to bring us down to our knees...l have not heard any opposition to that from the Northern leadership and l feel concerned...for the past six years we have Danbatta Mauza, Al-Mustapha, General Bamaiyi in prison for attempting to murder...l didn't know it was possible to keep someone in prison for attempting for murder."

As my nature entails, l tend to react to issues to clear my mind when the ovation is louder. My understanding in a democratic process is that the president can submit a bill to the National Assembly for consideration through covertly or overtly depending on one's choice of word. When a bill is submitted, both the proponents and opponents of the bill employ their maneuvering techniques in the form of lobbying by any means necessary. Hence, the democratic process and rule of law are set in motion.

The killing of the bill, l mean the third term agenda is a victory for all Nigerians and a democratic process. The third term agenda is just an integral part of the total package with other one hundred and sixteen amendments. The Senate action to kill the bill with disdain without voting for other amendments such as revenue allocation, creation of additional state in the Southeast zone, rotational presidency in the six geopolitical zones, immunity clause for governors, etc, was reckless and dereliction of legislative duties. They threw out the entire bill with impunity and exonerated themselves from any complicity and called themselves heroes whereas they appropriated revenues and many of them sat in the various committees to set the process in motion. It is irreprehensible and total disregard of Senate process to kill the entire bill just because of the third term agenda of President Obasanjo. Their actions were not sincere but disgraceful.
For the purpose of this discussion, it becomes imperative and prudent to reinstate my opposition to the third term agenda. President Obasanjo, as a 42 years old military dictator, voluntarily gave up power without opposition and returned the country to civilian rule in 1979 and such gesture torpedoed his statesmanship in the world community. Obviously, this third term agenda in his seventy plus years was a disservice to him by his trusted confidants who, selfishly underestimated the opposition, should bear the brunt of the blame and not Obasanjo.
The actions of the Senate left a huge dent to the integrity of the institution. The killing of the one hundred and sixteen amendments should be seen as lack of experience in the legislative process and increases my curiosity as to their qualifications and commitments to move the country in the right direction. Their actions are laughable and showed lack of confidence in the discharge of their legislative duties. l was greatly distressed and appalled by their reckless actions. The fact remains unchanged; that is, the military imposed 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria  that is flawed and insidiously riddled with Mickey Mouse provisions. The first term of Obasanjo administration should have utilized the opportunity to convey a Constitution Drafting Committee to correct the anomalies embedded in the military doctrine called the 1999 Constitution.

The question in the minds and hearts of right thinking Nigerians would be, what follows next? What happened to other amendments killed with third term agenda? Would various committees go back to the drawing table and begin another debate on the issues already rejected? How about the wasted resources paid to the members of the Senate just to kill the entire amendments? Are we not entitled for any refund if the Senate commences debate on other one hundred and sixteen amendments already pushed to the gutters? While we commended the Senate for killing the president's third term agenda, they should equally received tongue lashing for allowing their adrenal secretion to impair their decision making process. No matter how one looks at the Senate action, l cannot, in clear conscience, give them a thumb's up for a job well done.

The time has come to correct the imbalance in the presidency and apply the equitable principle of rotational agenda amongst the six geopolitical zones. It is generally believed that the Nigeria entity belongs to all and not few dominant ethnic groups. It is morally bankrupt that the region that produces Nigerian economy is denied the opportunity to rule and have a say on its God given resources.

It is a rape to other ethnicity if the presidency returns to the North, having had the opportunity to rule the country for 34 years of Nigerian's 45 years of existence. I can say without fear of contradiction that Northern opposition to Obasanjo's third term agenda was simply to wrestle power out of him. I am afraid that the continued and insatiable quest of the North for presidency, disregarding other ethnic pride and feelings, will one day turn the entire place into a present day Sudan and Ethiopia. In the words of one famous scientist, "Anyone who cannot remember history is condemned to repeat it." In my judgment, l can honestly and unequivocally attest to the fact that Nigeria, as a nation, did not learn any lesson from its Civil Wars.
Our general attitude is to take things for granted, believing that history cannot repeat itself again. To me, it is disingenuous. The threat is real but unfortunately, the name of the game is to take things for granted and allow the status quo to remain the same, but never ask an angry man, "What can you do ?" 

After reading the communiqués released by the Southern politicians meeting at Enugu, l could not restrain tears from eroding down my cheeks. The question would be why tears?  ln the past, l watched helplessly as Southern politicians grossly allowed the North to manipulate them into fighting amongst themselves to the benefit of the Hausa/Fulani excitements. I was emotional at the shenanigans of the South who have allowed the less educated North to usurp the nation's military to pillage Nigerian society. I am particularly offended by the overzealousness of the North to return power to them in 2007. How dare the North summon the audacity to ask the South for another mandate to rule the country after 35 years of wasting the resources of the country ? The North took the advantage of the divided South to sow their seeds of discord and decimated Nigerian society, thereby rendering the common citizens to abject poverty. Many Nigerians feast in dust bins and thousands turn as beggars. Thanks to the Northern domination in their 35 years of brainless rules.
The South should retain power after President Obasanjo's term has expired for the next 23 years. My research into Nigeria entity have failed to authenticate any document where the South had solicitated for the amalgamation with the North in 1914 under Lord Lugard 's imperialistic administration. I have watched with sadness some little States in the North receive Federal allocation of funds more than many Southern states where the resources are extracted. This is not a question of being tribalistic because l am not, but advocating for equity and fairness. l query the audacity of the North to ask for a power shift come 2007 after destroying the psyche of fellow Nigerians for a greeter part of Nigerian existence. What do they think the South is - a bunch of brainless species ?

During Abacha's wasteful and stupid administration, he squandered the opportunity entrusted on him by few khaki boys by looting the nation without remorse. He controlled the country with henchmen like disgraced Mustapha and Sgt. Rogers and decimated the South by denying every Federal development to the South. He watched the Southern highways became dead traps to motorist whereas he utilized resources dug out from the Southern states to develop the North. At one time, he appointed about twelve ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from his own kindred and the Northern oligarchy hailed him as a brilliant leader. l am particularly concerned and worried at the constant attack on President Obasanjo by the former Military Administrator of Kaduna State, Col. Umar, rtd. It was interesting to note that the administrator was part of the Northern domination in their 35 years of silly rule but never criticized any of the leaders. What an irony to criticize a democratically elected president whereas he praised Northern military presidents as heros. Where did Col Umar hid his face when Babangida nullified the June 12 election clearly won by the Southerner ? Why did he not display his superior political and analytical acumen during the Northern domination ?

The North claimed to be more populated than the South; if they sincerely believe in this myopic nonsense, why are they afraid to include religion and ethnicity in the proposed Census ? The Northern Senators accused the South of complicity to break Nigeria if they continue to demand to retain the presidency after 2007 and my response is, so ? Did the South ask for amalgamation ? If their conviction that the South, by demanding to rule another 23 years in order to equate with the number of years they ruled was consequent to breaking the country, l say without fear of contradiction that so be it.


I applauded the position of the Southern Forum to shift power to the South.


I will go further to request that the Southern Forum should include in their communiqué to retain power for the next 23 years in order to equate with the 35 years of Northern domination. Let us not be deceived by the vast area Lord Lugard assigned to the North, The South is more populated and more educated, blessed with endless manpower and resources to canvass for and retain power at the ballot boxes. The North has kicked the South around for so long and it is high time the South positioned them at the receiving end.
The question in my mind is where were the Northern Senators when their sons in uniform ruled and controlled Nigeria as their personal emirate for thirty-five solid years ? Where were they when all federal infrastructures were concentrated only in the North ? For heaven's sake, what is the rationale for laying crude oil pipe from Port Harcourt to Kaduna where there is no drop of crude oil produced in the area ? These are legitimate questions to be asked in a real democracy. Can anyone inform the unbiased minds the economic significance of this particular project. No question that the project is inimical not only to the South, but to the development of a country. It was a project ochestrated out of malice, envy and maliciousness.

Such wasteful project should be discontinued. It ramains a symbol, whether agreed or not, of Northern domination and devastation. In a simple term, a waste of resources in epic proportion.
The South should match the North word for word. In Nigerian politics, it is not business as usual. The president should use his executive power to create more states in the South to equate with the North. He should overhaul the Nigerian Armed Forces and create equitable number of soldiers of North and South origins; and the same scenario is applicable to Police. The president should distribute the amourey equally between the North and South.

This is how politics should be played in the country. Nigerian politics does not need Mr. or Mrs. nice president. l will be terribly disappointed if power returns to the North before 2030.

Repeatedly, my position has virtually nothing to do with tribalism, rather, it is the principle of fair play and equitable distribution of power in Nigerian democratic process. If this views are contrary to yours, so be it.

Being a patriotic and constructive political observer, l cannot conclude this piece without paying tributes to two true Nigerians of Northern extraction. One of such dignified individuals was Mr. Nas Wada in blessed memory. He spoke out against Northern domination and advocated for equitable distribution of power in Nigerian polity. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Anothe hero of mine is former military president who came to power by devine intervention after posterity caught up with Abacha. He is a solid military gentleman, General Abdulsalma. This general told the nation that he must hand over power to the democratically elected government on May 29, 1999 and he did it in style. He never perpetuated himself or plotted to install himself to life presidency. Can l say any good thing about Abacha and Babagngida, my answer is hell no.

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