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IBB: A Statesman With A Forgiving Spirit By Max Gbanite
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Mni, GCFR (also known as IBB), is a thoroughbred Nigerian; was once a career military man; and rose to become the first military President of Nigeria (those before him were Heads of States); a tactical politician, though recently retired from active politics.
The indefatigable, amiable ‘gentleman, oga or maigida’ a euphemism used by admirers to describe him turns seventy (70) years this month of august 2011. The dynamics of turning 70years, especially a healthy one, is the sudden realization that the journey of life ahead or the number of years remaining in one’s to life is certainly shorter than the journey passed through life or the number of years one lived through life. At this age, many opt to serve out their remaining time on earth by serving God, atoning for past mistakes, helping various charities or even emulating the ‘danyinska-behaviour’ of the ‘man-from-ota’. However, in the case of IBB, those who are very close to him will profess that he is witty, humble, extravagantly helpful to them-individually, various charity organizations, politicians, and above all, he does these things with an absolute belief and fear of God. He does not want the ever-present Nigerian press or the general public to know that he has helped any one financially; therefore, the public will never know what a great giver he is. There are other times as a human; he may not be quick in giving or in meeting one’s expectations; well, those could be the times he suffers what my friend Engr. Abdulkadir Idris, described as “donor-fatigue-syndrome.”
Although, IBB stands a little less than six feet tall in height, yet, in the midst of taller men he stands out magnificently taller than all; at 70 years, the man does not walk with a swagger-stick; that he left years ago as the Chief of Army staff; his gaiety is that of a simple father and grandfather who wished his family, friends, and country well.
Many writers---the good, the bad, the ugly, and the meanest mercenaries—have at one time or another given their own interpretations of the body language or behavioral-infrastructure of this great man, but for various reasons yet to be discerned or deciphered by analysts, he keeps changing from what is or was predicted of him. My mentor and friend, the late Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), and Minister of Justice, Sir, Clement O. Akpamgbo, once said that, “IBB is a man whose fingers act independently.” and that, “his right hand may not even know what his left hand is doing at certain times.” These are traits of leadership, and to be a leader, one must learn the art of survival and be consistent with self.
What I find remarkably-incredible about this great man is his ability to absorb all manners of criticism without being ruffled, and when the occasion demands, he rises above his piers to show an uncanny ability to lead and to forgive. If he suffers internal-regrets, or what may be termed self-absorption, then the first low point would be the aftermath of the June 12th annulment and its collateral effect on the nation; and the second, would be the crude unforgiving personal attack on his family by a man he helped out of prison, got the government to pardon, and ultimately led the financing for the man to become a civilian president of Nigeria in 1999; yet, the same man, President Olusegun Obasanjo, later, ordered the ill-mannered and rambunctious and former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to go after IBB and his family; what a way to thank IBB.
But, with wisdom and the fear of God, IBB rose above it all, and forgave the man called OBJ. During that unfortunate period, I was humbled by a sign posted on the door at the entrance of IBB’s office and other strategic places at his home in Minna, just to keep the spirits of loyalist like us focused; the sign reads: “They are plotting a plot, but the Almighty Allah, The Most Merciful and The Most Benevolent has a plan.” And, for me, as a Catholic and a Christian, I was quickly reminded of what Jesus Christ said while dying on the cross with nails on both hands and feet, while wearing a crown made of wild thorns; He said, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”
IBB must have learnt these valuable lessons of life judging by what I call his ‘forgiving spirit’. First, in 1969, as an armored-commander, during the civil war, at Uzuakoli sector, he received a bullet wound fired by his then enemy (Biafran-Igbo-Nyamiri-Soldiers) and some of the bullet-fragments are still lodged inside his body as of this writing. Rather than get even and hate Igbo’s with passion, he showed act of mercy by marrying their daughter, his ever beautiful, compassionate, and loving, and family-stabilizer late wife, Dr. Mariam Babangida (nee Okogwu); and when he eventually became the President, chose an Igbo as his number two man in Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (rtd.); and enunciated an all encompassing economic program to assuage the bitterness in the hearts of ndigbo; thus, he was crowned the ‘Ogugua-Ndigbo’ meaning….the ‘consoler of Igbo people.
Second, in 1991, Major Okar, with co-conspirators like Major Mukoro, Colonel Nyiam, Chief Great Ogboru, and others carried out the third bloodiest coup in the country, with the intentions to kill IBB and his leadership, and change the architecture of the country. IBB lost his Aide d’ Camp, Col. U.K. Bello, and a host of others, and by act of divine escaped with his life and that of his family. Yet, when Major Mukoro, led by the then governor of Osun State, Gen. Onyilola (IBB-Loyalist) came in 2009 to seek for forgiveness; he was forgiven. Again, Col. Nyiam and Great Ogboru followed shortly after to ask for forgiveness; IBB granted it to them.
During the hotly contested 2011 Presidential elections, the same Nuhu Ribadu, as the Presidential candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and who was once an IBB’s alleged fortune-hunter, a man who said all sorts of rubbish about IBB, and who thought that he can embarrass the family by restricting the movement of Mohammed Babangida (IBB’s first son) came to see IBB in his humble abode in minna, to beg for IBB’s forgiveness and seek his support for Nuhu’s presidential ambition; and the failed Lawyer-turned Pastor of Latter Day Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, as Gen. Buhari’s running mate; this is the same man, who had, in the past, said all sorts of unprintable rabid-rubbish against IBB, and preaches what the late afro beat king, Fela Anikulakpo Kuti would refer to as ‘christian nonsense’ also came to seek for forgiveness for all the rubbish he had said about IBB in the past; Yet, again, IBB granted them the forgiveness they sought.
Imagine if IBB were to have the ‘mean-spirit’ of that man from Ota (May God forbid bad thing), what will have been the faith of these men who stepped on his toes in the past, and are likely to do same again. At this point it is imperative to mention that IBB also forgave this same man from Ota for all the evil things he did to IBB and his family. He has equally forgiven all those members of the ‘consensus group’ who betrayed his last effort at coming back to lead the country one again as president; they can go to sleep with assurances that IBB bears no grudges against them, because he is indeed a forgiving man with a forgiving spirit.
The man (IBB) does not and has never in his life claimed to be an angel or a saint. All he wanted was to be an instrument of change. Change and economic reform are synonymous, and the momentum must be maintained for the sustainability and the economic prosperity of an indestructible Nigeria. IBB is a thoroughbred revolutionalist and quintessential Nigerian, and his Nigerianess is unquestionable. The man’s approach to issues is determined by the intellectuals that surround his environment and the quality of books found around him. He truly understands that in leadership, ‘consensus’ sometimes is not the best. His style of leadership is consistent with Dennis A. Peer’s statement that, “one measure of leadership is the caliber of people who choose to follow you.” And, a visit to his house is a true testament.
This write-up is not about IBB’s monumental legacies for Nigeria; that, I have done justice to, in all my previous writings since 1993; and without apologies to any, I remain, unarguably the most dogged defender of the man and his legacies in the world today. If in doubt, go to www.kwenu.com , click on max, and surprise yourself or go to African Independent Television (AIT), Nigerian Newspapers’ and ask for their records. This moment is indeed a special one for those of us privileged to be associated with this great iconoclast and colossus of a man.
IBB in our hearts remains a true statesman; a gentleman-par-excellence; and a man, undoubtedly, with a remarkable-forgiving-spirit. IBB Sir, as you reflect on the past, and project into the future, please do not have any regrets whatsoever. As historians would say, “you came, you saw, and you conquered.” May Almighty God, The Most Benevolent and The Most Merciful continue to be benevolent and show his mercy upon you, and guide your family to begin the process of protecting your legacy. And, as for us your friends and followers, let us rejoice in knowing that as our leader and benefactor, the greatest lessons from you is that which is called ‘spirit of forgiving’. |