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
The Tide source reports that Prof. Akinoso was elected alongside 38 other executive members of the party at the congress held on Saturday.
Other executive members are Dr Abiola Olaonipekun, who emerged as Secretary, Alhaja Latifah Latifu, Women Leader and Mr A. Adeleke, elected as Youth Leader.
It was learnt that the congress, which took place at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado in Ibadan, was attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police, other security agencies and prominent members of the party.
The election was supervised by electoral committee members, among whom were Prince Diran Odeyemi, who served as Chairman, Hon. Awoniyi Tolulope, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, Queen Stepheine Oyechere, Alhaji Yusuf Abidakun, Mr Olumide Aguda and Dr Phillips Adeniyi, who served as Secretary.
Prof. Akinoso, in his inaugural address, urged members of the party to set aside intra-party differences.
He advised them to concentrate their resources on the promotion of the party, saying, “The primary responsibilities of party executive members are to coordinate party activities, ensure harmony among members, and ensure party victory during general elections.
“Our immediate assignments are to key into INEC released 2027 general election time-tables. As directed by the National Caretaker Committee of PDP, our party e-membership registration starts next week. We must be fully involved and do a membership drive.
“A political party is only relevant and benefits its members if it wins the election. This is our goal. We should set aside intra-party differences; concentrate our resources towards the promotion of the party. We will make necessary consultations and dialogue to actualise this”.
President Tinubu disclosed this during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday.
He also disclosed that his administration had opened up on the principles of true federalism to the extent that local governments now get direct allocation from the Federal Government.
“There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.
“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.
“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.
“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money, but how they use it is in your hands. So, don’t bombard me alone,” President Tinubu said.
The ruling party said the ADC had turned criticism of the APC-led administration into its operating manifesto instead of presenting concrete solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, the party dismissed the ADC’s interpretation of a report presented at a policy dialogue organised by Agora Policy which suggested that the country’s poverty rate had risen from 49 per cent to 63 per cent.
Mr Morka said the opposition party’s reaction to the report as a “damning verdict” on the government’s economic policies reflected either ignorance of economic realities or deliberate political mischief.
“The African Democratic Congress’ attempt to spin a recent report presented at the Agora Policy dialogue indicating a rise of poverty rate of 63 per cent from 49 per cent as a damning verdict on this administration’s economic policies speaks either to its shocking ignorance of economic policy or its wilful blindness to the justification for, and transformative impacts of, ongoing economic reforms,” he said.
The APC spokesman noted that the report itself recognised the necessity of reforms aimed at correcting long-standing structural distortions in the economy.
According to him, the ADC had failed to present any credible alternative policy direction for Nigerians.
“Clearly, the ADC does not recognise itself as a political party. The ADC has not articulated a single alternative policy position or prescription of benefit to Nigerians. Condemning the APC and its policies has become its operating manifesto,” Mr Morka said.
He explained that major economic decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of multiple foreign exchange windows, were necessary steps to rescue the country’s economy from collapse.
Mr Morka said the subsidy regime had for years placed a heavy burden on public finances, consuming trillions of naira annually while encouraging corruption, fuel smuggling and inefficiencies in the system.
He added that the reforms had helped redirect national resources to key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The APC spokesman acknowledged that economic reforms often come with short-term hardship but stressed that the measures were essential to build a stronger and more resilient economy.
“Economic reform is never cost-free anywhere in the world. The transient hardship experienced by Nigerians was an inevitable cost of reforms meant to build and guarantee a better future for all Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Morka maintained that the country’s economic outlook was already improving, citing recent growth figures and stronger external reserves.
“Our economy has rebounded and is expanding steadily. The country’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.4 per cent last year and is projected to expand by 5.5 per cent this fiscal year, with foreign reserves now exceeding $50 billion,” he stated.
He also pointed to government initiatives designed to cushion the effects of economic adjustments on citizens, including cash transfer programmes, student loan schemes and the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives to reduce transportation costs.
Mr Morka reaffirmed that the APC-led administration would remain focused on rebuilding the economy and expanding social investments to support vulnerable Nigerians.
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