Politics
2011: IBB, Equity And Appropriate Atonement
For Ibrahim Babangida, Nigeria’s former President Ordinarily, one would not bother to write on or about IBB in the Nigerian contemporary discourse since he is a failed military Head of State and a failed and a disgraced general. But at every turn of event, he has many paid sycophants and paid agents who will continue to dish out blatant lies to try to re-write and turn history on its heads.
At this age and time where every and all information are at everybody’s finger tips, it is still surprising that Babangida and his agents can still lie in the village square.
Take IBB’s BBC Hausa Service interview for example. He blatantly lied that he met the Naira selling for 4.5 to the US dollar. We do not expect a former military Head of State and who is even desiring to rule Nigeria again to lie on petty issues like the Naira exchange rate in 1985. Babangida is said to be about 69 years now. If at this age he can lie on petty things like that, what morals will he teach his children and grandchildren?
Let us assume again that in his dreams he becomes the Head of State of Nigeria, it is then clear to all Nigerians that his government will be built on lies and deceit. For the information of the readers of this article, as at 27th August 1985 when IBB staged his coup, the Naira was exchanging 0.765 Naira=one US dollar. But by the time he was chased out of Aso Rock Villa by bloody civilians on 26th August 1993, the Naira was exchanging for 21.9 Naira to one US dollars. Source: Central Bank of Nigeria at www.cenbank.org. Http://web.archive.org.
That is one of the many lies of IBB. As a sane human being one will start wondering on what ground Babangida wants the Nigerian government to immortalise Chief MKO Abiola? Unfortunately some of us are never opportuned to come close to the disgraced general to put some of these questions across to him. The way Babangida opens his mouth tells everyone truly that he is a man without conscience.
But I don’t blame IBB, the youth he has castigated for lack of quality education and leadership though through no fault of theirs is the same youth now busy campaigning for IBB to come and finish his unfinished job he started in 1985 and was abruptly terminated by force of civilians in 1993. To be fair to the Nigerian youth it is only some misguided few. But if IBB was still interested in power why did he quit it in 1993? There was no military coup against him, he did not conduct an election and honourably handed over to the winner like OBJ or Abdulsalami. Why did he leave power unceremoniously then?
But on what basis is he advocating for Chief MKO Abiola to be immortalized now? Is it on the basis of the fact that he was the winner of the June 12 1993 election? What a self indictment by IBB.
You see, the truth has a way of bringing itself to the fore.
Coming to those defending Babangida that he was rich before he became military Head of State. Going through Babangida’s biography, you will discover that he was orphaned at 4 years and was brought up by his uncle. Joined the army at 21 years and he bought his first Vespa motor cycle as an Army Major in 1969/70. All his life he was a military officer like Generals Buhari, Mamman Vatsa, Magoro and many others. Where then did he get his wealth that his agents are defending that he was rich before he became the Head of State. Or was IBB in a different army from the one Generals Buhari and Mamman Vatsa were in? Agreed that it is said most of Nigerians have collective amnesia, but not when it comes to people who stole Nigeria dry and still flaunt this our stolen commonwealth scornfully in our face.
Ordinarily if IBB could stay quietly in his 50 bedroom hilltop house and enjoy his loot, we will definitely forget with time since time they say is the greatest healer. But it becomes annoying and irritating when he comes from his hibernation from time to time to add insult to the injury he had inflicted on us by insulting our collective intelligence. Even children in primary schools in Nigeria and Ghana have been taught that Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida is the father of corruption in modern Nigeria.
That he misappropriated $12.4 billion US dollars gulf war oil windfall.
We are still wondering what his paid agents are defending.
Whatever Babangida and his paid agents say, Babangida has no moral or legal right to contest for any elective post in Nigeria anymore. By the singular act of annulling the June 12, 1993, he had sold his democratic right to participate in election. We know he has no conscience but we still remind him that the old legal adage says that “He who comes to equity must come with clean hands” and “He who wants equity must do equity.” Let IBB ask himself whether he has passed these basic tests when it comes to his role in June 12 1993 election annulment. An apology can never be an atonement for June 12 annulment. What about the 40 or 400 billion Naira wasted.
What of the millions of those killed in the aftermath of the riot that followed that annulment? Criminal trial is the appropriate atonement. Any evil done by man will be redressed whether here or in the hereafter. This is my personal opinion.
ndiame_2005@yahoo.co.uk This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ndiameeh Babrik
During a press conference held in Owerri, the coalition called the campaign a “dangerous and shameful display” designed to distract the public from the governor’s performance in office.
The CSOs directly linked the Greater Imo Initiative (GII) —the group that made the allegations on September 4, 2025—to Governor Uzodimma, describing the group as his “mouthpiece and attack dog.”
“Every word spoken against INEC was spoken on his behalf.
“By falsely alleging that Professor Yakubu has an alliance with Dr. Amadi to compromise the 2027 elections, Uzodimma has not only maligned a man of proven integrity but also assaulted the very foundation of our democracy”, said Dr Agbo Frederick, speaking for the coalition.
The coalition described Professor Yakubu as a “beacon of electoral professionalism” and called the attempt to soil his reputation “defamatory and a national security risk.”
They also defended Dr. Amadi, a “respected development scholar,” stating that the governor’s accusations were “laughable, desperate, and dangerous.”
The CSOs see the motive behind the campaign as an attempt to “silence the dissent, intimidate the opposition, and divert attention from the governor’s abysmal record in office.”
The coalition issued four key demands to Governor Uzodimma: An immediate retraction of the false and defamatory allegations against Professor Mahmood Yakubu and Dr. Chima Amadi.
- A public apology to both men within seven days, to be published in at least three national newspapers and broadcast on major television networks.
- An end to diversionary tactics and proxy propaganda.
- A renewed focus on governance, including addressing insecurity, unemployment, and poverty in Imo State.
The CSOs warned that failure to comply would force them to “review our position with a view to seeking legal redress from Governor Uzodimma for defamation, false accusation, and reckless endangerment of lives.”
“Governor Uzodimma must be reminded that he did not find himself in the seat of power to chase shadows.
“We call on all Nigerians to reject Uzodimma’s diversionary antics as they are nothing short of desperate plots by a government terrified of accountability”, the statement concluded.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC expressed concern that preventing the senator from resuming her legislative duties violates democratic principles and disenfranchises her constituents.
“The suspension, having been imposed by the Senate and not a court of law, has lapsed. Any further attempt to prevent her from resuming is therefore both illegal and morally indefensible,” Mallam Abdullahi said.
The party noted that denying Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan access to the chamber silences the voice of the people who elected her, adding that the withdrawal of her salary, aides, and office access during the suspension amounted to excessive punishment.
The ADC also criticised the Clerk of the National Assembly for declining to process her resumption on grounds that the matter was before the courts, arguing that the Clerk’s role was administrative, not judicial.
“Administrative caution must not translate into complicity. When the administrative machinery becomes hostage to political interests, the institution itself is diminished,” the party stated.
Highlighting that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan is one of only four women in the 109-member Senate, the ADC warned that the handling of the case sends a discouraging signal about gender inclusion in Nigerian politics.
“Any action that resembles gender intimidation of the few women in the Senate would only discourage women’s participation. Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy while excluding half of its population from key decision-making spaces,” Mallam Abdullahi added.
The ADC insisted that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan be allowed to resume her seat immediately, stressing that the matter was about more than one individual.
“What is at stake here is not just one Senate seat, but the integrity of our democracy itself,” the party said.
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