Tuesday, March 2, 2010

AMERICA'S PUSH FOR IBB 2011, OBAMA THANKS BUT NO, THANKS!

It is a very wrong move and an anti-Nigerians' position by the Obama administration to back such a discredited military junta named Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) as Nigeria's next president, come 2011? It is with great surprise and a very rude shock that Icheoku learnt of the administration's desire and current subterranean moves in progress to foist IBB on Nigerians. We condemn both the thought and effort as being greatly detrimental and anti-Nigeria's best interest. It is an affront on the budding democracy in Nigeria that the world's bastion of democracy should be working with an ex-military dictator to truncate real democracy in Nigeria. This is unbelievable, an Obama administration headed by a constitutional law professor and himself a beneficiary of the open competitive presidential race system in America, now contemplating to smuggle a very wicked and mean bastard called Ibrahim Babangida back into Nigeria's seat of power at Aso Rock. say it ain't so Ameria!

His reputation for raw brutality not withstanding, but is it not about time Nigeria's democracy is allowed to freely evolve and eventually throw up a dynamic and ebullient leader, like America did with Barack Obama, instead of always playing the midwifery role on who becomes Nigeria's leader?Surprisingly, it does not matter to the administration that IBB was a "terrorist" head of state of Nigeria between 1985 to 1993; a coup plotter and truncator of democracy who twice stabbed democracy in the back through the heart respectively in 1983's coup against second republic Shehu Shagari democratic government and again in his 1993's annulment of the freest election ever recorded in Nigeria which made Abiola, the president-elect that was never sworn into office? It also does not matter to these Americans that IBB was once alleged to be a gun and cocaine runner and it was on account of the latter, the story of which Dele Giwa was pursuing on account of one Gloria Okon's disappearance, that he was brutally murdered by a parcel bomb on the orders of IBB? Is it possible that IBB's enormous wealth has bought him respite which saw him being allowed in UCLA cancer center where his millions was simply not enough to buy back his late wife, Maryam Babangida's health as succumbed to ovarian cancer attack last December 29, 2009? Has his looted billions of dollars now washed away his sins that America now finds him acceptable as their point-man in Nigeria's seat of power?What a fatal blow to the fight against corruption this will be, if a corruption-personified and corruption-Field Marshall, the man who reinvented corruption and flagrantly inserted it in Nigeria's lexicography in a manner never before seen or contemplated; and who made it a glorified and acceptable societal behavior is now being asked to provide an oversight function to the anti-corruption effort as president of Nigeria?

Instead of investigating his source of stupendous wealth, particularly what he did with Nigeria's first Iraq-war $12 billion dollars oil windfall and his alleged dabbling in drugs, America is now merely busy sending delegations to IBB to nudge and push him to run for Nigeria's president in 2011? Icheoku asks, is oil politics just enough for America to pretend or deny that IBB was too mean and vicious, and that he trampled on so many citizenship human-rights of Nigerians, including some Nigerians' right to life? Anyway with their antecedent prop of the unpopular Shah of Iran and the history of Latin America's nascent past, nothing is impossible with Washington; but Icheoku makes bold to say that Teheran's fallout which is still reverberating throughout the Middle East shall fade in comparison with what Nigerians will throw their way, should they persist to toy with the idea or experimentation of a very unpopular, anti-Nigerians' Babangida presidency come 2011. Admitted that to the United States, foreign policy means the protection of America's interest anywhere it exists in the world including the Niger Delta's Nigeria oil resources. Such a foreign policy trust initiative seems to imply that it does not matter if the host-country's people are being pummeled or trampled under the jackboots of their propped up dictator; provided the spigots are open and the sea route remains open? But not this time, America; IBB's candidacy is going to be a costly experiment and with Chinese advances in Africa, alliances might be forced to sway in their direction if the only and last hope for humanity and democracy defender is now seen not to be different than the rest of the others. Babangida is, simply put, unacceptable to Nigerians, period!

Icheoku therefore calls on the United States to retract its steps forthwith and not to support or bankroll an un-bankable person IBB; any attempt to foist him as Nigeria's president will create more disruptions to the oil-flow than is presently being imagined as the Nigerian people will rise in unison to say not in our name, never again and not this time! IBB is a forever politically damaged goods; and he who would annul the freest democratic election in Nigerian chequered history should not be the right and proper person to benefit from the same democratic setting, which he had earlier twice sabotaged. America should try not to replicate similar problem, which have made them 'unwanted and unwelcome' in the Middle East; and which is causing so much resentment and an otherwise avoidable tension over there, once again in Africa. Nigerians still love America so much and to the extent they see it as being open enough, to elect the first black American President Barack Obama; but this dalliance will go south the moment they realise that what was good for America goose is not good for African/Nigerian gander? Which country installed Obama at the White House one may ask, none but the generosity of the American electorates; so why must the chief protagonist of democracy in the world ever contemplate doctoring and truncating the same democracy elsewhere in Nigeria, to produce a strange outcome, which the citizens Nigeria does not want? Why IBB, one may ask?

Such a scandal of an American backed IBB Nigeria presidency, is capable of painting America with the wrong colors before the viewing prism of most Nigerians; many of who are still nursing the snub of the century handed to them when the same President Obama visited Ghana in disregard to the traditionally Nigeria 'ownership' claim to the first-visit right or privilege of any American president visiting sub-Saharan Africa. It is capable of a great backlash of resentment and shall be resisted with every demonstration imaginable and unimaginable; or better still, easily hand over to America what their national security assessment have since determined - a splintered Nigeria, instead of waiting for their 15 years projected time? In America, now is always better, hence the popular commercial " It is my money and I want it now"! Where were these foreign policy arrow-heads and their human rights mantra when the same Nigerian-reject, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida blew away journalist Dele Giwa with a parcel bomb? Where were these progenitors and apostles of an Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida's 2011 presidency when the same self-styled evil genius of Nigeria annulled the election of Chief MKO Abiola - the freest and fairest election ever conducted in Nigeria under the only good thing IBB ever formulated, Option A4? Where were the Americans when the same Nigerian-Maradona killed poet Mamman Vasta based on a phantom coup plot? Icheoku wants to know if these Americans think that the near-wiping out of all the soldiers of Middle Belt of Nigeria origin, during Gideon Orkar's failed coup against Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida was justified?

Icheoku warns that the Obama administration will be making a huge foreign policy mistake in Black Africa if they try to impose Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida on Nigeria, come 2011. It is unpopular, unacceptable, not a good smart choice and will surely backfire! But peradventure, the Americans will not dare nor succeed with such a suicidal initiative, judging from the tsunami of resistance such a move will generate in Nigeria among civil society groupings and the general polity. If they think that they can pull this rabbit off the hat, then like they say in America, they have another thing coming. Peradventure they succeeded in the coronation of IBB as president, then it will be against a Nigeria boiling over like hell, and possibly the harbinger of the end of Nigeria as the Yoruba South West nation will not accept to be part of a Nigeria with an IBB president. The sons and daughters of Oduduwa will lead a vociferous resistance to both IBB's emergence and governing as president, using whatever gets the desired result including the highly potent Africa black juju magic to make it a road not worthy of travelling? How dare any man born of woman think that Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida would be tolerated by the Yoruba nation to benefit from the same democracy which he denied their 'son of the soil' Abiola, whose election he infamously annulled? June 12 is IBB's Achilles heels, his albatross, his fork on the road and has permanently damaged him politically. It has made him an unacceptable and unelectable president of Nigeria as is presently constituted with the Yoruba South West still a major component of the geographical entity. But a Nigeria without the South and the South West in particular, may be a possibility for such asinine contemplation of an IBB's presidency; but Icheoku is sure such a re-configured Nigeria is not what these Washingtonians have in mind, while nursing this wishful thinking?

It is President Barack Obama who while on a visit to Africa once said, 'what Africa needs are strong institutions and not strong men', so Icheoku asks, why the sudden u-turn and change of mind, in pursuing the same issue of a 'strong man' for Nigeria's future president? How would the espoused 'strong institutions' develop in Africa if America continues to interfere in local countries politics and engineering the imposition of a retired military junta as being contemplated, who do not have the peoples mandate to govern them? By encouraging the absurdity that is Babangida's second missionary journey to Aso Rock, America will be doing a great disservice to Nigerians and to all it stands and preaches of if it continues on this course of infamy. A country of more than 150 million people with so many well trained and highly qualified manpower including so many Ph.Ds, former diplomats. scholars, a Nobel Laurette, a former Commonwealth secretary general, a world bank managing director, a world acclaimed computer genius, very successful business men and women, lawyers, doctors, engineers, political scientists, some untainted retired military men and women and so many other potential presidential candidates; many of whom are rather too urbane and savvy to participate in the bawdily that is present Nigeria politics that they chose instead to remain aloof and silent in the bandits dominated jungle of Nigeria politics; should have and deserves a better option than IBB.

If America means well by their seeming current foray and interest into Nigeria's politics, let them do right for and by Nigerians - encourage a level playing field, push strongly for election reforms, constitutional amendment and help in building strong institutions. Such institutions as made it possible for a previously distant and improbable then presidential candidate to emerge as America's 44th president will be welcomed in Nigeria by well meaning Nigerians. Otherwise, were it in present day Nigeria that BO ran for president, may be hell would freeze over before he can ever achieve the feat of last November 24, 2008? Now instead of encouraging the emergence of Nigeria's own Obama, this administration is reaching into the cesspool of Nigeria's polity to pull up a discredited army man named Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida to put him in Aso Rock? Icheoku asks, if Obama administration could contemplate this disservice to Nigerians, does it mean that the hope and change mantra which propelled him to the White House was country-specific to the United States only; and that Nigerians should not dream and hope or at least reserve the right to hope for a change they can believe in, in their own country which has eluded them since 1960? Icheoku believes that Nigeria deserves a fresh beginning, a clean break from her despicable past leaderships, especially from Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, who twice truncated democracy in Nigeria and this should be the thrust of any political assistance of the Americans to Nigeria towards 2011.

If however the Obama administration pulls off this sacrilege and IBB is foist on Nigerians in 2011, Icheoku is hereby making a promise to get the American press to know what transpired; renounce membership of the Democratic Party and will work tirelessly to make this an issue in Obama's 2012 possible re-election campaign. We shall not only denounce what transpired in Nigeria but shall work hard to get the message out that the real Barack Obama needs to stand up; for being one of its body-double is a democracy hypocrite but not its formidable propagator. President Barack Obama will surely pay a huge political price as our support, our visitors', as well as our numerous friends and millions of other Nigerian/African community in the US will go elsewhere, for his not standing up and helping Africa get rid of their sit-tight leaders and past discredited military junta, one of whom his administration 'installed' in Aso Rock?

But whatever happens with this America's recent budding interest in IBB presidential candidacy, Nigerians will resist with every sinew in their body, the attempt to smuggle IBB back into the saddle of power in Aso Rock; and shall defend their right not to be ruled again by a retired army general and especially IBB. Never again and not after the traumatic experience of Nigerians under the other former army man, Olusegun Obasanjo; as no sane Nigerian ever wishes for a deja vu with the return of Ibrahim Babangida Babaginda to power. The United States therefore must back off this toxic-asset IBB, as they are stepping into a non-negotiable territory for most Nigerians with their alleged support of IBB, his candidacy is not acceptable to Nigerians, especially the people of Yoruba South Western Nigeria who are still haunted till this day by the tragedy that is Babangida's annulment of their son MKO Abiola's 1993 presidential election. Why stir an hornet nest that will hurt everybody, America? Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida as damaged goods cannot be sold or bought by Nigerians, so why try to market such a moribund dead on arrival candidacy to Nigerians? Moreso with the loss of his amiable wife Maryam 'Better-life' Babangida, his charm offensive asset is forever gone; and which sane Nigerian wants to see a 70 plus year old toothy ex-military junta as their president? Not anyone known to Icheoku, except of course some of those Nigerian political traders and harlots who like the masses in William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, will always mistake Cicero the poet for Cicero the conspirator; and regard any government as good government that looks the other way while they perpetrate and perpetuate their evil corruption, which has led to Nigeria's stagnation to till this date. Please America, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida is a wrong choice for your support for Nigeria's presidency in 2011 or at any other time whatsoever, so abort your effort now!

6 comments:

  1. President Babangida 2011
    • Forces line behind ex-military president to succeed Yar’Adua
    By VINCENT UKPONG KALU
    Saturday, March 06, 2010


    Within the week, when the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) publicly declared that the North will occupy the Presidency till 2015, the coast was cleared for aspirants from that part of the country to oil their political machinery for the 2011 electoral contest.

    One of those who may be the direct beneficiaries of that policy is former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, especially since it is almost foreclosed that President Umar Musa Yar’Adua will not seek re-election.
    Saturday Sun gathered that in the last three months, as Yar’Adua’s health problem rocked the nation, many forces, within the country and outside, have been shopping for his likely replacement in 2011. Sources revealed that the choice has been narrowed down to Babangida, a member of the PDP.

    It is generally believed that the death of his wife had put a stop to his ambition of returning to Aso Rock but a close IBB confidant said that, the manner Nigerians sympathised with him during his trying period has humbled him the more and if given the opportunity he wants to reciprocate by giving Nigerians quality and good governance. The message of appreciation he sent to Nigerians conveys his emotion on the love Nigerians showed his family. In the message, he stated, “my dear compatriots, you have once again stood by us at a time and moment when my family and I are need your support, consolation and prayers. No amount of gratitude and appreciation I could offer to you could convey succinctly how deeply touched and grateful my family and I are to all of you… my family is most humbled by these kind words and expressions you conveyed to extol the virtues of my late wife during your visits.”

    Last September, three months before the death of his wife, he said he would make consultations before taking a position on the 2011 presidential elections. He then admitted that not only his aides and associates, but various interest groups were mounting pressure on him to return to partisan politics.

    Now that the pressure has included the US, would he take a position? Time will tell. Some elements in the North believe that he is not only qualified to occupy the highest political office in the country but is also popular, having been head of state for eight years. Also, foreign countries, which want stability in the country are said to have equally penciled down Babangida for support, ahead of 2011 elections.

    The US connection
    It was gathered that the United States has indicated interest in Babangida and has actually reached out to him on its thinking. Sources said that the recent visit of a strong US delegation to Nigeria, comprising Jonnie Carson, the country’s assistant secretary of state for African Affairs and Robin Sanders, its ambassador to Nigeria is part of the plan to draft Babangida to the 2011 race.

    It was gathered that even though Babangida has not come out openly to declare his interest for the 2011 presidential election, the pressure on him is high. Sources said that due to the calibre of forces urging him to join the race, he would buckle eventually.

    A source maintained that the US has followed the political situation in the country and has come to the conclusion that Nigeria needs a president who would restore confidence and leadership. It said that many people have been considered.

    Sources said that among those considered is Brig-General Buba Marwa, former Nigeria’s military attaché to the US and current Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa. He was said to have been dropped because the US group believes that it may be difficult for the former governor of Lagos State to be accepted by other parts of the country.

    ReplyDelete
  2. President Babangida 2011

    Sources close to him said that one of the ways the former Head of State wants to find out how Nigerians feel about him was for his associates to commission a research to find out how Nigerians would receive his entry into the presidential race. It was gathered that this move is preparatory to him officially declaring to replace Yar’Adua next year.

    Former national treasurer of PDP, Dr. Godwin Daboh, who is among those putting pressure on Babangida to join the 2011 race, had said that result of research conducted in the six geopolitical zones showed that over 70 percent of Nigerians want Babangida in the presidency in 2011. This seems to have buoyed the confidence of the group, which are surreptitiously revving their political structures.

    With such finding, associates of Babangida have subtly started making comments to prepare the ground. One of his former aides and ex-military intelligence officer when Babangida was in power, Captain Sagir Mohammed (retd), recently said that the constitution is clear on who could be presidential candidate. According to him, “the Nigerian people who decide who becomes the president have not, in any way, foreclosed his possibility of becoming the president and we have no proof that those few who want him not to contest, represent the view of Nigerian people.”

    He remarked that General Babangida holds the record as one of the greatest leaders that have ever ruled the country, since the period of amalgamation, adding that he has a record of achievements unsurpassed by many Nigerian leaders before and after him. The former military officer said Nigerians now have the unique opportunity of comparing the Babangida regime with what the country has had after him.

    Resurrecting political structures
    It was gathered that Babangida has refused to disclose his political activities for fear of being accused of contributing in heating up the polity and destablising the Yar’Adua government. Sources said that he wants to meet with President Yar’Adua, to ascertain his plan for 2011 before making a public declaration on his intention.
    In the meantime, it was gathered that his political associates have started resurrecting his political structures secretly, preparatory to his declaration.

    One of them, who pleaded anonymity said: “We are now resurrecting our structures because it is evident that going by the internal and external pressures mounted on IBB to run for 2011 presidential election, he would succumb. The unity and progress of this country is very uppermost in his mind.”

    His clout
    Events have proved that Babangida is a force to be reckoned with in PDP and the polity. In 2006, many people picked nomination forms for various offices because Babangida was expected to run for the president. Some of them, especially those who wanted to be governors, had actually paid the non-refundable N2m to pick nomination forms. They, however, dropped their aspirations when it became clear that Babangida was no longer interested in the presidency, following the aspiration of Yar’Adua. Babangida had put what happened into perspective then when he said that he pulled out because he did not want to go into a contest with any member of the Yar’Adua family because he saw them as his brothers. He revealed that Yar’Adua’s father had told him not to ever do anything that would put him on collision course with any of his children, as they grew up together.

    ReplyDelete
  3. President Babangida 2011

    It was gathered that Babangida eventually got endorsement after people like Mr. George Bush Sr, who was president in US when Babangida was military president in Nigeria put in words. The Bush Snr. support, it was gathered, informed why immediate past US president, George W. Bush, wanted to meet with Babangida when he visited Nigeria for the ThisDay awards.

    Before the President Barrack Obama’s delegation to Babangida, the US and European Union had lamented the uncertainty in Nigeria, caused by the absence of President Yar’Adua. In a joint statement signed by US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, France’s Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner and European Union High Representative, Catherine Ashton, the US and EU noted: “Nigeria is going through a period of uncertainty because of the prolonged illness of President Musa Yar’Adua. Nigeria’s stability and democracy carry great significance beyond its immediate borders, given its importance as a global oil producer and stabilising force in West Africa.”

    In the quest to help Nigeria get stability, the US therefore, wants a leader it thinks would build institutions, as President Obama earlier suggested.
    However, apart from the US, it was gathered that Nigerians, especially power brokers in the North are also putting pressure on Babangida to join the race for next year’s presidency.

    Maryam death angle
    It was gathered that the death of Babangida’s wife, Maryam, last December 27, served as a rallying point for some politicians, who want Babangida back at the presidency. Within the period when Maryam was buried and her 40th day fidau, paraphernalia of offices of state governments across the country literally relocated to Minna. At Minna even though politicians came for mourning, there were reconciliation of political foes and realignment of political forces.

    Initially, there was the belief that the death of Maryam would sound the death knel on Babangida’s comeback hope, but the goodwill that came with it boosted the confidence of the retired general, it was gathered. Babangida’s confidant said that the manner Nigerians, from all walks of life sympathised with him, during his trying period, humbled Babangida the more and made him to hope that an opportunity would come for him to reciprocate by giving the Nigerian people quality and good governance. The message of appreciation he sent to Nigerians conveyed his emotion on the love Nigerians showed his family.

    In the message, he stated: “ My dear compatriots, you have once again stood by us at a time and moment when my family and I need your support, consolation and prayers.”

    The North’s thinking
    It was gathered that the northern political elite, believing that it gambled and lost out with the Yar’Adua presidency, thinks that with a candidate like Babangida the geopolitical zone will bounce back to political reckoning, just as General Olusegun Obasanjo brought back South West to political relevance at the federal level.
    Sources said that the declaration that no serving or former governor from the North will succeed Yar’Adua was part of the signal to draft Babangida into the race. Indeed, a frontline northern critic and retired Army Major, Abubakar Umar, had warned that the northern governors, who are nursing the ambition of succeeding Yar’Adua should bury such plans. According to him, none of these northern governors is competent to rule the country. He said that some of the governors, apart from their dismal performance, were found wanting when the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) checked their books.

    Considering the offer
    It was gathered that Babangida is considering the offer to succeed Yar’Adua. He is said to be examining the various forces angling for his entry into the race, to ascertain if they mean well or just want to drag him out and disgrace him. Also, he wants to be sure that Nigerians would accept him.

    ReplyDelete
  4. IBB Will Celebrate 70th Birthday In Power - Prophet
    Written by By Michael Oche, Abuja
    Saturday, 13 March 2010 22:55
    • Says Nigeria will lose a former president this year || As the debate over who becomes Nigeria's president in 2011 continues, a man of God, Prophet Paul Hamzat of the Christ Liberation Evangelical Ministry Int'l has declared that former head of state, Ibrahim Badamasi Babaginda, will become Nigeria's president by 2011, even as he said Nigeria will lose a former president before the end of the year.

    Hamzat who said he got the revelation from God, though refused to mention who the former president will be advised Nigerians to pray harder for its leaders. He said IBB is coming as a saviour and messiah that will liberate Nigerians because God has chosen and ordained him for the assignment.

    He also said Nigerians should thank the military for holding the country as one. He said if the military were interested in taking over power, they would have done so.

    Speaking to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY in an exclusive interview, the prophet said, "God has already chosen his own person that will take over power. All what they are doing now is mere preparation for the person, because Nigeria is about to witness a change, but not in this dispensation. After 2011, the new government will bring Nigeria’s change

    "IBB's name is in the top as Nigeria’s president come 2011. Nobody on this earth can remove his name. Anybody who tries to remove his name will be blown away by the wind. There is a signal in heaven that Nigeria will witness change when IBB ascend power

    “IBB is coming back. He is going to celebrate his seventieth birthday in power. If he does not that means Jesus is not coming back."

    Prophet Hamzat who denounced insinuations that he was campaigning for the ex-general said, "Heaven is working on his behalf. It is not an issue of come lets, campaign for him. Heaven is mobilising for him. IBB himself will not campaign. Heaven will campaign for him. In fact the man will not spend a penny. It is also not about party affiliation because every party will adopt him as their candidate.”

    He continued, "If you look at IBB as a person, he is not greedy. That is why God told me that he is bringing a messiah, someone that nobody can intimidate and that cannot succumb to anybody. Nigerians should stay calm. They should be expecting a messiah that is coming. He will bring liberation to Nigerians. I can tell them that there is hope in 2011. The sign of the hope will begin to manifest by August this year. God has told me that Nigeria will rise ten times better. That is why he is bringing IBB. People will like to contest with him, but at the end of the day, they will withdraw.

    "God will mobilise people to work for him. It doesn't take God anything. God is a problem solver and He will solve the problem of Nigeria. God is bringing him to power to restore Nigeria.”

    Prophet Hamzat who said he has had so many of such revelations from God, said he foresaw and prophesied about the death of the former first lady, Mariam Babangida and the illness of President Yar'Adua.

    According to him, "I was in the aircraft on chrismas day going to Lagos . I was telling someone that IBB will come to power but his wife will not follow him. Few days later I received a call from the same person that Mariam Babangida is dead. Before Yar'Adua fell ill, I told Nigerians that the president will fall ill and will be flown abroad for treatment, after two days my prophecy came through.”

    He further said he has a revelation from God that former Lagos State governor, Ahmed Tinubu, will go to jail this year. He also said Pastor Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian church has to pray very hard because danger is looming around his corner.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Plots to stop IBB thickens
    Meanwhile, northern elders, who are not favourably disposed to General Ibrahim Babangida’s candidature for 2011 have began subtle campaign in the north to stop him from running. This is even as the IBB’s group has also stepped up campaign to canvass support for the former Military President.
    Only last Friday, one of the anti-IBB’s meetings was held in Kaduna, at the instance of a former Defence Minister under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    The meeting, Daily Sun gathered, was attended by prominent northern elders, including a former Finance Minister. Interestingly, the Kaduna meeting coincided with the movement of the IBB’s sensitizing group, led by another former Agriculture Minister under former President Obasanjo to Borno and Kano states respectively, last weekend to meet with stakeholders in those areas on the need to support the IBB project.

    But a die-in-the wool IBB supporter, who though was not part of the anti-IBB meeting held in Kaduna, has advised the former Military President not to contemplate running in 2011. He is Alhaji Mohammed AbdulRahman, a chieftain of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and founding member of the defunct Northern Elders Forum (NEF).
    He told Daily Sun that rather than waste energy on wanting to run in 2011, IBB should use his contacts, experience and connections to influence who would emerge as the President. He wants IBB to play an advisory role in the country’s search for a “credible and purposeful,” leadership.

    “I am aware so many people are urging him to run. But for me, I will advise the General to organize them, and find a leader from among them to lead us in 2011. PDP as a party is misbehaving today because we don’t have a good elder from among them that will call them to order, I think it is high time IBB assumes such a role. If IBB can do that politics in Nigeria will change. IBB’s current position in the scheme of things in Nigeria is more than that of a President of a country.

    “Look at the crowd, when he lost Maryam, how many people out of power can pull such a crowd in this present day Nigeria, especially considering the timing? So that tells you that IBB occupies a special place in this country, and as one of his admirers, I would not want him to lose that prestige. So instead of him running, I will advise him to find a suitable candidate from among those he believed in and put such a person forward,” AbdulRahman added.
    However, another IBB supporter based in Kaduna, Alhaji Hassan Mohammed Jallo, disagreed with AbdulRahman. Jallo, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State said that PDP should not dream of wining 2011 Presidential election if it fields any other candidate other than IBB.

    He claimed that the present crop of leadership in the country under the PDP has failed the nation, and so should give way to IBB and his team in 2011 to steer the ship of Nigeria to an enviable height once again.
    While noting that the PDP has been the country’s problem especially for imposing ailing Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on Nigeria, he warned that the party was doomed should it field Yar’Adua for 2011 election:
    “PDP should not make the mistake of giving Umaru Musa Yar’Adua the ticket in 2011 because no Nigerian will vote for Umaru and PDP cannot rig Umaru into power in 2011. I am telling you this without fear of any contradiction. I know PDP as a master rigger; we cannot rig Umaru into the Presidency in 2011. If they field Umaru in 2011, PDP will lose that election.

    “I still repeat and I can repeat anywhere, that there is nobody that can fix Nigeria except IBB, and the only way PDP can win election, landslide victory is for the party to give IBB the ticket, only IBB can win election for the PDP come 2011. If PDP dares put any candidate apart from IBB, they will lose the elections.”

    Last line
    As things stand, 2011 presidential election is likely going to be a straight fight between Buhari and anyone the PDP would be presenting. Will Buhari be third time lucky? Only time would tell.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Duty calls for every Nigerian citizen to join the effort to stop Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida 2011 presidency! It is a national duty which all patriotic citizens must take up, and with their blood if need be. Icheoku says to you Nigerians that no matter the pressure, bribery or intimidation that the IBB train might throw at you, you must reject the idea and say no to the lunacy of an IBB's presidency in 2011. Failure to rise up against this evil machination will forever tattoo every Nigerian as a colloborator, who deserve the type of 'government-of-no-hope' which Nigeria gets, every time and each time since Independence in 1960? In a country of about 150 million people, please tell Icheoku that IBB is all there is; or simply put, the best and brightest bulb in the chandlier called Nigeria? A man so despicable he killed many Nigerians - Dele Giwa, Mamman Vasta, Gloria Okon, Gideon Orkar etc; raised corruption to an Olympian heights from which it never came down; deeply entrenched same that it became almost an official state policy; truncated democracy by staging a military coup in December 1983 against the peoples elected government; and as a 'stepping-aside' gift, gave Nigeria the nemesis, the midget of Kano, Sani Abacha? A man he could have retired but didn't? A man IBB not too long ago, eulogised at his grave-site in Kano, as one of the best things that ever happened to Nigeria? So 'impeccable and flawless of character' is Abacha in the eyes of IBB that he pretty much said that 'Switzerland and Obasanjo lied when they said that $500 million was recovered from Abacha's looted funds and paid back to Nigeria?' In short IBB's cupboard is full of all manners of skeleton from the oozing to the bone-dried that his candidacy, should be a non issue to begin with and ought not be touched with even a totem pole by Nigerians. Indeed IBB's re-emergence will be such a grave mistake for Nigeria as it will further ingrain the notion that Nigeria is a banana republic which goes back and forth between army generals? If you are still undecided or unconvinced to join the 'STOP IBB EXPRESS', Icheoku says, just remember your experience under the other retired military former president Olusegun Obasanjo and then make up your mind on a deja vu or the simpler course of just saying no to another formerly uniformed beast, if not worse? The leopard never changes its spot and so is IBB; and IBB will always remain an IBB. Be warned Nigerians, your conscience will not forgive you if you make such a tragic mistake as electing an IBB's presidency in 2011. What must you do now or how can you help the effort to abort this unviable fetus, one may ask? Please join the bandwagon of 'Operation Stop IBB Now', as we collectively reject the IBB project as not good for Nigeria and also not what the doctor ordered for Nigeria 2011 and not this time or any other future time!

    ReplyDelete