FEATURE ARTICLE

Olanrewaju AjiboyeWednesday, May 24, 2006
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London, UK

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REFLECTIONS ON THE JUST DEFLATED THIRD TERM BALLOON


he attempt to undermine Democracy through Democracy was dealt a fatal blow by Democracy in Nigeria a couple of days ago and we are referring to the rested constitutional amendments talks that included tenure extension for certain categories of current elective officials. The last may not have been heard of the matter but at least for the first time, the National Assembly justified their elections by thwarting an attempt to entrench tyranny.


So many comments have been made since the defeat of the unpopular project that have done justice to all sides of the argument but the aim of this piece is to sensitize and inform our youth who would be exercising their suffrage for the first time in 2007. Mostly those who were born in 1985 would not likely have voted in 2003 and the history of 1985 to 1999 is germane to the politics and elections of 2007.

The desperate attempt to force the third term on the nation has unfortunately brought about relevance for real enemies of democracy who were very vital to the history of the period between 1985 and 1999. With no place to hide and no issue to discuss before the advent of the third term debate, these individuals suddenly found their bearings and started to parrot fake patriotism. The few of them that really got actively involved and are willing to benefit from the fallouts of the ill-fated project are:

IBRAHIM BADAMOSI BABANGIDA (IBB): He is an ex- Head of State from August 1985 to August 26 1993 (A period equivalent to the constitutional two terms allowed an elected President). Before that, he was Chief of Army Staff under General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces from December 31 1983 to August 1985.

During his reign, IBB often referred as "Maradona"or "Evil Genius" adopted various economic and political doctrines, and he excelled in none. His government annulled the June 12 1993 Presidential elections. This was one bungled opportunity that could have given him leverage and modicum of credibility against all the ignominies of his era. It was a decision that generated too much bad blood, threw the country into turmoil and led to the loss of many innocent lives.

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Like President Obasanjo, he too was lucky to be the Head of State when the price of oil soared on the international market due to the effect of the first Gulf War. Unlike President Obasanjo who decided to use the windfall of the present rise in the price of crude to offset the country's debt, the government of Babangida not only squandered the windfall, it increased the country's international debt and impoverished the citizens. Babangida attempted tenure elongation. Yet under his regime, there were many questionable deaths including that of late Dele Giwa, the Pioneer Editor -in- Chief of Newswatch Magazine. Officers of different arms of the Military whose the country's wealth were expended on their trainings for the defence of their motherland were lost to coup attempts handed down by Military Tribunals.

If today, Nigerians are dying by scooping for petrol, succumbing to AIDS infections, engaging in drug trafficking, consuming hard substances, and perfecting the acts of scam popularly called 419, the bulk of the vices reared their heads under the IBB's regime's years of the locust.

IBB stands for everything and sticks to nothing. It is so difficult to get a clear direction from General Babangida, as one would expect from General Muhammadu Buhari or even President Olusegun Obasanjo. General Babangida seems to be a good soldier, because deception is part of soldiering that is capable of enervating an enemy, but he is dealing with Nigeria and a good Soldier to the Civilian is the one whose words are his honor.

Presently, he is making frantic efforts to come back as a Civilian President. By the present constitution of Nigeria, he is free to contest but he lacks the moral clarity to stand for the office again.

UCHE CHUKWUMERIJE: By the awry nature of the Nigerian politics, this man with a goatee is a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Some twelve years ago, Uche Chukwumerije was the Abacha's equivalent of Hitler's Joseph Goebbels (1933 -1945). Like Goebbels, Chukwumerije did yeoman's propaganda job for Abacha the Dictator. In the heat of the agitations for the revalidation of the annulled June 12 Presidential elections, Chukwumerije was responsible for crying wolf where there was none. He also served as a competent hatchet man for diatribes against opponents of Abacha's usurpation. Thanks for his competence in his assignment, unfounded fears and tension soaked the entire country during the time. Not to be caught unawares, many families especially of the Eastern extraction were leaving in droves, their abode in the South West in anticipation of Chukwumerije's parroted anticipated War. In the process, many lives were lost and valuables destroyed. As the mouthpiece of Abacha's junta, he did more than enough to divide Nigeria and we are yet to fully recover from the wounds he helped inflicted on our psyche.

The flawed process of the time constitutes the intractable malaise of today. If by accident of history, he supported a pro- people project by lending his voice against the third term project, it is not a feat enough to make him a democracy hero. Nigerians should therefore be cautious not to roll a red carpet for him.

CHIEF TOM IKIMI: Like Uche Chukwumerije, he too served under the Abacha dictatorship as Foreign Affairs Minister. Prior to that appointment, he was the Chairman of the party of the right of the centre, National Republican Convention (NRC). He did not fall for the idea that "a democracy that hates us is better than the dictatorship that loves us", he collaborated with the Chairman of the Party of the left of the Centre, Social Democratic Party (SDP) which candidate had won the presidential election. Because political parties must have broader participation and accommodate different individuals, Chief Tom Ikimi is having the ACD as his sanctuary. The ACD on the other hand, is employing the method of using the venom of a snake to develop an antidote for its poison, hence so many politicians of ignoble pasts have been allowed to identify with the party.

On the other hand, the unapologetic Third Term Protagonists are well known. It is not in their character to strive to win elections, rather they "capture" positions through rigging, manipulation, intimidation and bullying. The notorious members of that predator group are CHIEF TONY ANENI(rtd.Cop), DR. AHMADU ALI (rtd. Soldier), CHIEF OLABODE GEORGE(rtd.Navy Commodore), and CHIEF ADESEYE OGUNLEWE, a civilian hawk. The list includes many of the civilian governors with military mentality and other vassals.

As the sands in the hourglass continue to deplete in President Obasanjo's presidency, it is important to let the voters both old and new, know who their enemies are. The new entrants into voting age should not only be vigilant but also savvy not to be hoodwinked by characters on both sides of the divide who are like ill wind that blows no good. Nigerians deserve a better crop of leaders and the future ought to be better than what they are presently making out of it.