Femi Ajayi's Outlook

Is it the quest for power that Babangida tasted for years that he is going to see how it tastes in the civilian cloth? Is it a satisfaction of a life time that he is looking for now? Is it the wealth that is dwindling that informed him to go back in his quest to live for another 50 years? Is it the shortage of leadership in the North that is informing him to go back to Abuja? Or what is in it that Nigerians are very much unaware of what Babangida is after?

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Thursday, July 29, 2010



Prof. Femi Ajayi

ANNOUNCE THIS ARTICLE TO YOUR FRIENDS
WOULD SOME CREDIBLE NORTHERNERS STEP OUT AND BE COUNTED TO RETIRE BABANGIDA?

ddressing Nigerians residing in Canada sometimes in late June 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan reiterated the fact that

"We are a country where our leaders tend to play tribal sentiment, saying I am from the South-South; I am from North-west; I am North, I am South, I am a Muslim and I am a Christian. All these are selfish motives to make people who probably cannot compete with others…to use these sentiments. …who reach out to their narrow cleavages when they cannot compete."
Human beings would appreciate such statement.


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Instantaneously Ibrahim Babangida response was to warn Jonathan to watch his utterances as Aso Rock is his 'Spider Hole'. He added,

"Please, be informed that we are not in competition with anybody in 2011 presidential elections. Babangida is just in a class of his own. There is no nation in the whole world with peculiar features such as Nigeria. Given such scenario and reality, our method of power sharing, power distribution and representation has to be peculiar too."

On the same assertion an elder statesman, the former presidential adviser to President Shehu Shagari, Tanko Yakassai, said:

"It is unfortunate that of all people, it is President Goodluck Jonathan that is quoted of accusing fellow Nigerians as being ethnic bigots. ….he has been dancing to the dance of his ethnic nationality of Ijaws. If President Jonathan is ethnically biased, he is inevitably making other Nigerians tow his line of thought. Immediately he became the President, he appointed someone from his Bayelsa State in the person of the Dezeani Alison Madueke as the Minister of Petroleum Affairs, which is the mainstay of the economy. What did she do, she went on to recognise the Ministry and NNPC, where over 50 percent of the key positions were given to people from her (ethnic nationality) and the President's area,"

King Sunny Ade sings, "Esinsin tin je legbo, eeri sosi, elegbo wan je sin sin, ewa nkigbe." Literarily interprets that since flies have been feeding on the sore, no one is talking, people starts talking when the one nursing sore turns against flies. Here we go again; a hole has been picked on President Goodluck Jonathan statement in Canada.

Surprisingly, Babangida is insulating that Jonathan has open up the can of worms that would irritate the oldies of the north by deceiving us that they never played any ethnic card in their life. Babangida REFUSED to open can of worms on June 12 at the irritation of most Nigerians. Since some Northern leaders have been playing northern-Moslem game no one talks.

What is wrong with the Queen of Bayelsa State as Petroleum Minister? Papa Tanko Sharia Law can not acquire that beauty. Take your deceiving eye off her.

It is very obvious now that Babangida with his co-architect of regression in Nigeria are up for something that they would leave to regret. Most Nigerians see what damages Babangida have done to the country and now warning Jonathan to watch his utterances. Who should watch his actions in a country that a Medical Doctor cannot be proud of sending his children to College without getting involved in some very obvious bad practices, courtesy o maladministration o Babangida. Who is Babangida to warn Jonathan to watch his utterances?

Since 1999, Babangida has been struggling to see the direction of the sun. Now he came out from the shadow and show up his face that he is ready for the Nigerian Presidential race, thanks to Otunba Gbenga Daniel's birthday. No one knows what type of sneakers Babangida has on for the race. Possibly NIKE!

Not to be callous to Babangida, please accept my condolences on the loss of his darling wife. The lady who brought out the beauties in women, not just their physical beauty, but the inner part of an average Nigerian lady, very caring, loving, intelligent, humble, generous, gracious, what else. She was a good woman of valor. May her peaceful soul rest perfectly in the Lord! Badamosi, please accept my honest condolences.

Now back to where we should be in terms of governance in Nigeria. Some of my readers have been questioning what informed the 2-4-8-2-4 seizing the opportunity of Otunba Gbenga Daniel's 54th birthday to launch his come-back bid into Nigeria politics.

Babangida seized the opportunity to test the water in Abeokuta, the twin city of Egba and Owu homeland of late Moshood Abiola and Baba Iyabo respectively. Obasanjo new abode, been pushed out o Otta due to poor road network of Otta cutting off Baba Iyabo's visitors. No Queen would ply that dangerous Otta road.

The '7-6-2-2' is coming back to govern Nigeria again to pick whatever he left in Aso Rock. Does that villa better than his 52-bed room mansion in Minna?

Could Otunba's invitation to Babangida as the Chairman of the occasion, was an opportunity for him appeal to the highly sophisticated and enlightened Ogun people, to forgive the ugly past of Babangida. Unfortunately M A R A D O N A REFUSED to get out from his ego to say publicly to Nigeria, especially the people of Ogun State that "I AM SORRY FOR THE JUNE 12 ELECTION" that prevented late Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, been declared the winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election.

In addition he could have asserted that he supported Baba Iyabo to have two terms as civilian President, even though they failed to get him the Third Term. Now his 'god son', Jonathan, is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He is too cocky to apologize to Nigerians on the offensive policy of annulling the 2003 election. In his reaction he still has the effrontery to demand to know the definition of apology. Apology is spelled A P O L O G Y.

According to him,

"I want the definition of public apology. I [already] said that I accept full responsibility. Here I am - I conducted the best election and I annulled it. Every president, a leader, must be respected for taking responsibility for anything good or bad. As a leader I accepted it. Every leader makes mistake, I am not an exception.''

M A R A D O N A the great!

Once again apology is spelled A P O L O G Y. Taking responsibility is not understood by an average Nigerian. He should come out from his egoistic style and be a true servant Dr. Aliyu, his countryman in Minna is preaching. Whatever he forgot in Aso Rock could be irrelevant to Nigerians of today, who are actually suffering.

A natural potential Nigeria president in his magnanimity would want Nigerians and citizens of the world to forgive the retired general for his "past errors of judgment", believing that the ability to forgive would enhance development and harmony in the country. Is Babangida too big to say that he is sorry?

Whatever is kept in Aso Rock freezer for seventeen years, according to him, is still cloudy to his good sense of judgement. Cunningly Babangida is still singing the base line that

"Seventeen years ago, when I left Aso Rock, I left so many things that I think I should go and bring back. I left for example, the value of Naira; I left, again for example stable price of fuel. I also left a whole lot of reforms, and I need to go back and get them back. So there are lot of things that I left behind that I want to go and pick up for the benefit of ordinary Nigerians." What a revelation!

"Ordinary Nigerians" that are actually suffering from his policies after 17 years he left the office would not want him back. It is now time for him to add another years of elongated suffering for Nigerians. Would Nigerians accept and allow him to repaint his ineffaceable colors again?

His boldness was a testing ground of his popularity at a State where people felt he would not be accepted. My wife's eye witness account at OGD birthday lecture was mouth watery when she described the accolades, the tumultuous welcome Babangida received at the Valley View Auditorium, Government House, Oke Igbein, Abeokuta, Ogun State on April 16, 2010.

The Guest Speaker, Dr. Don Kroah, Founder and President of Reach Africa Now and the Host/Executive Producer Wava Don Kroah Show Salem Communications, Washington D.C., United States of America, might have been picked as Babangida's Consultant. His topic was "The Personalities, the Institutions and the Future of Democracy in Nigeria".

Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida has many questions to answer despite his claim that no one dare annul his election if he contested and won. The good news for him is that progressive Nigerians believe that after his consultations he would be truly informed by the general opinion to remain in his 52-bedroom mansion in Minna.

Is it the quest for power that Babangida tasted for years that he is going to see how it tastes in the civilian cloth? Is it a satisfaction of a life time that he is looking for now? Is it the wealth that is dwindling that informed him to go back in his quest to live for another 50 years? Is it the shortage of leadership in the North that is informing him to go back to Abuja? Or what is in it that Nigerians are very much unaware of what Babangida is after?

When Babangida REFUSED to appear before Oputa Panel, why is he being hypocritical about planning to come back to defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

It will be remarkable if both USA, Britain, China, France, Germany could successfully decode IBB's personality. He is still consulting.

Nigerians as well as citizens of the world are keenly interested on the best way to decode Babangida from the unresolved death of Dele Giwa; the annulment of June 12, election purported to have been the best in Africa. He dismantled the progressive policy of a life time for Nigeria.

Babangida is making a mockery of his late friend, Chief Kasimawo Abiola, MKO Abiola's Hope '93, that "I want something similar to the Hope '93 campaign." Ironically he wants his name immortalized.

On a personal level his outright hatred of Babatunde Idiagbon for removing the international airport, River Niger Basin Authority project, chopping off Kainji dam from Kwara State for Niger State to create an outlet for him to Benin Republic. Kwara has stopped to cry over the spilled milk as the airport is back, and added to that is the cargo airport, with the School of aviation to match, the mechanized farming is back in Kwara State, cocoa production is striving, Education system is taking shape, and some efforts have been made by the current administration to bring the State a befitting progress it deserves.

On a serious note, most Nigerians would annul General Ibrahim Babangida if he ever contests the election. He boasts of contesting, PDP or no PDP. "Macabre dancers" have started their parade in getting IBB into their political caucuses.

Haba, I have been polluted.

Who will succeed enticing Babangida to its political Party? We understand that AC and ANPP have approached IBB to join their Political Party. Where are their guiding principles for establishing political parties?

No one is asking IBB to step down for anybody. As he has the right, as a Nigerian, to contest, so also Nigerians have the right not to vote for him, courtesy of Professor Jiga, the new INEC Chairman who has declared that he is not for sale. We hope Professor Jega maintains that to the last letter. Nigerians need not bother that much. As a Nigerian, Babangida is entitled to attain the highest position of his desire.

He has pitched his tent within the 'Oliver Twist' Foundation.

Unfortunately the North is in short of credible candidates to contest election beside the likes of Babangida, Atiku, and Buhari. Buhari tried in 2003, and 2007, with ANPP, no success. In 2011 he is pitching with CPC as if he MUST govern Nigeria by all means necessary. He should retire or be retired. Unfortunately the highly disappointing late Yar'Adua handlers have disgraced the North of lacking credible candidates?

Is it a course on the North? Who will bail the North out of the shameful leadership candidates?

Which North by the way; North Central? Consequently IBB is the most qualified to vie for this position. Unfortunately Kwara State has never been considered to be fully part of the north or North Central Zone. Kwara leaders have not figured out which way as they are leaders of convenience, Sokoto Caliphate today, Oyo Alaafin the next, or journey to Ile-Ife.

Where is Smart Adeyemi for goodness sake on Babangida banana peel trip, since there is no other credible one from the North Central to occupy that seat? Bukola what are you doing?

Should Nigeria CONTINUING trusting Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida who sizes up Nigeria?

Babangida has failed most Nigerians before, and he is failing progressive Nigerians again. A General who would run at the sound of fowls without knowing their directions wants to govern Nigeria again.

The general made it to Benin City recently to launch his Presidential ambition. Disappointedly he claimed that his painful leg did not allow him to walk "less than 100 meters space between the podium and the state box" to deliver his dream speech, even to wave his hands and say we will see you at the polls.

Haba a General refused to stand on his 'painful leg', because of the presence of some activists! He complained like an elementary school student who failed his promotion exam. He told his parents that the goat ate his report card. Does Nigeria still want such a leader with no moral fibre and chutzpah?

What a General, backing out after sleepless nights in preparing the speech. Is this how his return would help Nigeria in the face of many challenges? His arthritis or radiculopathy ailment would prevent him from attending to the State affairs. Not another sick President who would not be able to address the challenges in town.

What a shameful General.

He chickened out from the greatest opportunity where he could have delivered "To Hell" speech to the nation that is on the brink of collapse. Despite the confrontation from the intrepid but treasured Wole Soyinka, he could had summoned up courage to tell Soyinka that 'Nigeria belongs to all, and as a Nigerian and citizen of the world, I have the right to be anywhere in this country and I have the right of association'. Shikena!

Good enough Babangida is a Big Turkey.

Babangida should reach out to the people he is going to govern, not telling Nigerians, especially his critics that no one would stop or discourage him from testing his popularity. We know that he is very popular among those he elevated to stardom and they appreciate him.

One concerned Nigerian, Dr. Valentine Ojo opined that

"Nigerians would be MORONS to re-cycle another failed military dictator, the MOST CORRUPT and the MOST UNETHICAL and the MOST HEARTLESS of them all, Gap-toothed Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida! If you fool me once, shame on you! If you succeed in fooling me twice, then shame on me! People like Babangida should actually be probed, arrested and made to stand trial for TREASONABLE FELONY for seizing the government with guns! I like that.

A mockery of Babangida's campaign slogans, courtesy of Nigerians Abroad, reads

"I think the Young are inept and incompetent, with your vote, I can do it again. I disrupted a popular electoral process, with your vote, I can do it again. I made way for a puppet Head, and then a Dictator; with your vote I can do it again. I detained a lot of Journalists, with your vote, I can do it again. I sapped the economy; with your vote I can do it again. Moshood Abiola? With your vote I can do it again. Dele Giwa? With your vote, I can do it again. Vote for me. Or Vote for Change."

On a serious note CHANGE will come in our lie. We have to change. If we refuse to change, change will change us to what we do not like.

Would some credible Northerners step out and be counted to retire the likes Atiku, Buhari and Babangida for good?