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By Ademola Fadipe
Some believe that Babangida is an intelligent fellow, some, like me, doubt such assertion. Those who believe in Babangida's intellect likes calling attention to how the man "outwitted" us all. They claim that the man embezzed funds, cancelled free and fair election, made a mess of people's civil rights and yet is raoming about free without any inhibition or restriction. Even presently, they claim, he is playing crucial role in our political transformation. So, they ask, if this is not intelligence, then what is? The question demand scientific and philosophical approach. Scientifically all living organisms are intelligent to one degree or another. Underwater algae are intelligent but not as compare to chimpazees who are in turn less intelligent compare to Homo Sapiens. Biologically then all human are intelligent and those attributing such characteristic to Babangida are correct at least in that respect. The ability to function effectively within a given environment is inherent in us all to certain extent. Intelligence then has to do with setting goals and ways to go about achieving those goals. This is where the philosophical aspect comes in. Claims that Babangida "outwitted" us all is irrelevant, at least as long as we are not engaging in a public competition of wit. Overlooking how he became Nigeria's president, Babangida's goal for which the people allowed him to stay on in power, was NOT to outwit us. It was NOT to strip us of our collective dignity and throw us into those dark years. The people expected him to use whatever intellect he possessed for the improvement of Nigeria. Pure and simple. That was the goal at which he failed glaringly and at which we're now passing judgement on him. He'd shown himself as a man of weak intellect at least as far as presiding over a nation is concerned. And as if his failures as a president were not emough he went on to betrayed and backstabbed the Nigerian populace. The little of the economy he did not lay to ruin he appropriated to himself and his cronies. Instead of being called intelligent Babangida should be describe as a backstabbing, double-standard individual attributes which if combine with his weak intellect, makes him particularly dangerous. Many would claim that for someone to be a backstabber he would need to have some intellect, the question however is why should one be a backstabber, an evil genius? Why should Babangida ruined his homeland and still be proud that he did? Why should he throw us, himself included, into those dark years? Infact example of how dangerous a person of low capability in leadership role can be is confirmed when Abacha, a fellow with even weaker intellect assumed the presidency. He ruined everything and everybody himself included. The goal of a ruler is to achieve peace and progress for his people and society. The Machiavellian notion of staying on in power without purpose leads no one to nowhere not in this 21st century. People will ask questions and when they do all power of suppression won't be enough to quiet them down. As a Nigerian ruler in the later part of the last century Babangida led Nigeria into darkness and that was not an intelligent thing to do. Not when other societies were laying the foundation of prosperity they are enjoying today. Bill Clinton might have been an immoral and a liar he was however intelligent enough to lead his country into greatness. He didn't ruined his country. This is where intelligence plays crucial role and if we are now doubting Babangida's intellect, it is this aspect that we are refering to. A leader's ability to improve his people's lot, to leaves things better than he met them. Babangida may have been sufficiently intelligent to build a house for himself on a hill in Minna, appropriated bilions of Nigeria's oil money to himself and still avoid prosecution for such crime and others he comitted, he however lacks intelligence when it comes to turning economy around for better. He lacks intelligence when it comes to putting more food on Nigerians' table. He lacks intelligence when it comes to providing electricity, running water and building good roads etc. In short his intelligence is wanting on how to provide good governance. So on what basis are some clamouring for him to contest political post?
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he on going discussion concerning the Abdusalam A. Abubakar Lecture Series being organised by the Chicago State University and the recent clamourings by some to re-invent Babangida and re-impose him on us as Nigeria's president have brought the man back into our consciousness (as if he'd ever left). And one of the characteristics among many that have been re-occuring in discussions about the man is how intelligent he is or is not.