IBB AS A PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANT

IBB AS A PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANT
By Ahmed el-Salam
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida needs an introduction to those who will attain voting age by 2011. By that year, it would be 18 years after he ‘stepped aside’ – using his own words – as self-made military president of Nigeria; an office he attained via a coup-detat, having overthrown another military government of General Muhammadu Buhari, in which he served as chief of army staff.
From August 1985 to August 1993, he presided over the affairs of this country as an amiable despot. Let me explain. Any person whose emotion is not easily betrayed on the face is inscrutable, but if the person also wears a toothy smile, then he is amiable. IBB is an epitome of despotism, clothed in a consciously crafty camaraderie that is bound to deceive even the most wary individual. He was such an autocratic phantom for the eight years of his clueless rule – which explains why he would rather ‘step-aside’ than resign or retire.
Since 2003, he has regularly threatened to ‘step-in’ again but for one in-descript reason or the other, could not make good his word. The new threat appears more real than the ones before for reasons which may be decipherable. An individual as rich as IBB cannot afford to be disinterested in the game of power politics given the sources and level of his wealth and so, he will always bid for or sponsor someone into power. He needs to protect-more of cover up – a lot of his actions or decisions while at the helm for 8 long years. Many of his boys needs to be nurtured and helped to continue to climb the ladder both in public service and in the business world. He needs more than cash and more of influence and power to do so. He needs to watch his rear, his flanks and his front for the vengeance of those whose toes he rightly or wrongly stepped upon. He aspires to upstage his boss and bosom friend, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in wealth and record of office – OBJ was in power for close to 12 years combined. These and perhaps more reasons are why IBB’s move this time may be for real.
From most shades of opinion, Babangida is the biggest impediment and liability IBB would have to defeat. This is because his records and legacies are shallow, dubious and altogether unprofitable. Aside from his stocky and handsome looks and toothy smiles, people say there is hardly anything else you can get out of him. His greatest victims were his closest friends and associates. You may wish to ask Buhari who is lucky to be alive. But if you can, please ask General Mamman Vatsa, M.K.O. Abiola and Colonel Dimka all of blessed memory.
Of course, he is a benefactor of not a few who remains at the corridors of power and who still wields some influence. These are the sponsors of his public relations or image laundering and who would go to any length to defend, if they cannot shield him from so many accusing fingers. But they have largely failed. Chief Alfred Rewane, Dele Giwa and many others not so prominent are mementoes of IBB’s ‘magnanimity’. Did Babangida not claim that “for their future, “he” sacrificed his today?” His sacrifices only helped to impoverish Nigeria with high moral bankruptcy, a specie of corruption known as ‘settlement’, and duplicated but, non-performing institutions all of which died along with his exit.
DFRRI, FUMTP, BLFRW – these were satanic acronyms of worthless agencies created mainly to siphon public funds by aides and friends of IBB’s regime. Village, community and urban banks were created for the same purpose. Meanwhile, public utilities of immense benefit to the masses were deliberately killed to give way to the aforementioned junks. The Nigeria Railway, Nigeria Airways, Nigerian Shipping Line all fell victims inspite of IBB’s sacrifice of his today in order to give you better future.
These who ought to know asserted that ‘settlement’ was of three types: an unexpected favour that is meant to make you compromise (reserved for moral crusaders), a concession or contract granted to a public servant or his/her nominee to make him look the other way from a heinous felony; and the ultimate settlement: the beneficiaries were eliminated by seemingly co-incidental ‘accidents’ either by air or by road and other means. ‘Settlement’ knew no friend, colleague or relations. It was purely a Machiavellian tool to waste opponents or potential enemies.
In his preparation for ‘stepping aside’, he was said to have set-up the Heritage Group, one of which monopolized the printing contracts from Abacha’s government. The other one, the Heritage University failed to fly. When mention is made of the $12 billion Gulf war oil windfall, the Okigbo Report and the Oputa Panel, one is being reminded of the type of ‘sacrifice’ that IBB made for or against our future and in his own interest. Sacrifice, service and sincerity lost their true meaning to IBB’s regime.
The Press named him ‘Maradona’ after the manner of the Argentina’s football master dribbler of the 1980’s. Some uncharitable street fellows eulogized him as International Baban Barawo (IBB) based on his reputed itchy fingers at the treasury. You may want to ask them for evidence, if you need to. And the ultimate prize: he christened himself during a press interview as an ‘evil genius’. If we don’t believe the Press, his incessant windy speeches from the throne may be sited as proof. If the IBB eulogy is doubted, you may point to the $12 billion Gulf oil fund as evidence. One may need to be on the fringe of insanity to deny him of the name with which he described himself.
There is a question someone asked in the course of investigation for this article: what is in Ibrahim B. Babangida for Nigeria? This is no doubt a contentious question as there will be as many answers as his supporters and opponents care to proffer. If ours is to mirror the opinions of many and present them to the reader, we shall be failing in our duty if we demur to do so. The value of IBB to Nigerians is to remain who and what he is at the moment: a handsome, stocky former president of Nigeria in retirement. As to what is in him for Nigeria, “a study of the anatomy of anomie may provide a clue, failing which a post – mortem examination on the failure of the Nigerian-state may do the trick”. This was the answer of the person who posed the question. What is your answer?