IBB

IBB: A Statesman, His legacies, and Unity of Nigeria

Max Gbanite

General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Mni, GCFR (also known as IBB), is a thoroughbred Nigerian; once a career military man who rose to become the first military President of Nigeria (those before him were Heads of State); a tactical politician, who recently announced to the world that he has retired from seeking active political office; turned 71 years on August 17, 2012.

The indefatigable and amiable gentleman, referred to as "Oga" or "Maigida" by admirer’s celebrated his seventy-one (71) year birthday coincidentally on the last day of fasting during the Holy-month-of-Ramadan Kareem. The highlight of the occasion was marked by the usual great turn out by respected friends, enemies, and admirers who thronged his minna-hill’s residence, to show him love, respect and wish him many more years, while his enemies will continue to marvel in jealousy. The dynamics of turning over 70 years, especially a healthy one, is the sudden realization that the journey of life ahead, or the number of years remaining in one’s life, is certainly shorter than the journey so far or the number of years one has lived. At this septuagenarian age, many opt to serve out their remaining time on earth by serving God, atoning for past mistakes, and helping various charities.

Although IBB stands a little less than six feet tall, however, in the midst of taller men he stands out magnificently taller than all. At 71 years, the man does not walk with a swagger stick; he left that behind years ago when he left the military. His gaiety is that of a simple father and grandfather who wishes his family, friends, and country well.

Many writers -- the good, the bad, the ugly, and the meanest of media 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.

What I find remarkably incredible about this great man is his ability to absorb all manners of criticism without being ruffled. When the occasion demands, he rises above his peers 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 12^th annulment and its collateral effect on the nation. The second would be the crude and unforgiving personal attacks on his family by a man he helped out of prison, got the government to pardon him, and ultimately led the effort for the man to become a civilian president of Nigeria in 1999. Yet, the same man, President Olusegun Obasanjo (aka; emperor OBJ), later ordered the ill-mannered and rambunctious former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to go after IBB and his family. What a way to thank IBB!

(The above preamble was excerpted from an earlier tribute to the man when he turned 70 years. I loved it so much, I had to repeat it with some modifications, so kindly endear me the privilege).

However, just recently, both IBB and OBJ issued a joint communiqué after a period of ‘cold peace’, reassuring Nigerians of their unequivocal commitment to the unity of our great country. They noted the nation’s state of insecurity has caused “pervasive cynicism” amongst Nigerians who have lost faith in the nation’s unity. They went further to say that, “The people of this country must not allow whatever sense of frustration, fear and despair we are experiencing now to supersede our hopes for a collective destiny which lies in our continued existence as a nation.” And “For us, and millions of other Nigerians, the continued unity of this nation is not only priceless but non-negotiable.” (See ThisDay Newspaper, pg 8, Monday, July 30, 2012).

My friend Prof. Bernard opined that, “OBJ’s concern is purely based on his economic gains. He owns the largest farm in Nigeria; in Jigawa State, Cross River State, Taraba State, and his place in Ota. He needs a larger market to continue his operations and sell his farm-products.” Incidentally many Nigerians feel the same way, especially, given that OBJ spent eight (8) years in office, from 1999 to 2007, and had the budgetary allocation to transform this nation positively, instead he impaled transformation, and sent the nation into a spiral-turbulence that gave birth to the current state of insecurity; economic-social injustice; political corruption; judicial corruption; decline of family-religion-moral values; and rigging; kidnapping, militancy, and national disunity.

I state without fear or favor that IBB’s commitment to the unity of Nigeria remains unquestionable. He was ahead of others when he advocated for a two-party political system for the country as panacea for safe-guarding democracy; yes, that experiment was aborted due to pressure from various quarters, especially from the South-West traditional rulers and some members of the Awoist-group who hated MKO Abiola. They reasoned that MKO Abiola used his newspaper ‘concord’ to attack Chief Obafemi Awolowo when the latter was contesting for the presidency of Nigeria against Shehu Shagari, in 1979. The pressure was so high and overbearing that he (IBB) and fellow members of the then Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) annulled the election, and introduced an interim government, led by Chief Ernest Shonekan, GCFR a South-West prominent indigene from the same Ogun State as MKO to take over from IBB, who stepped aside; all in the name of unity. Many members of the Armed Forces Ruling Council, especially those referred to as ‘IBB BOYS’ during that imbroglio insisted that IBB should continue as president, and not step aside. They swore their unflinching support for his continuation, but IBB said, “no.” (If in doubt ask the current Senator David Mark, and his colleagues, he was one of those referred to as ‘IBB BOYS’).

Today, the man IBB has accepted the sole responsibility of that annulment as a mark of leadership, although, it was a collective decision. Sometimes people are led to believe that in military all decisions are made without consultations; well, that is a wrong impression because no singular person plans and effects a coup successfully without consultation and, in collaboration with others.

At this point it is imperative to observe that, whereas most south-westerners argue that the ‘Interim Government’ was unconstitutional, none has argued that the derivative-benefit of ‘GCFR’ accorded to Chief Shonekan be removed. Instead, Chief Shonekan continues to wear his national honor with pride because he clearly understands that his being part of that Interim-government prevented a break-up of Nigeria and, the credit must go to IBB and his fellow members of AFRC.

In 1999, when the nation returned to democracy, stalwarts from the old National Party of Nigeria (NPN) who dominated the newly formed People Democratic Party (PDP) moved towards choosing between Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Jim Nwobodo, and Chief Graham Douglas, as the party’s presidential candidate. Again, IBB, with support from Gen. T.Y. Danjuma (rtd.) and Gen. Aliyu Gusau (rtd.) believing that the South-West must be placated because of the annulment, funded and lobbied for OBJ who is from MKO’s ogun state to become the president; in order to preserve the unity of Nigeria; what a horrendous mistake, because our nascent democracy have suffered ever since. The imposition of OBJ in the midst of democrats became the ‘cancer’ and ‘HIV’ virus that is killing our country slowly; and the collateral effect is felt in every political party in the country; imposition of candidates against the wishes of the people is now in vogue.

The man (IBB) does not claim, and has never in his life claimed, to be an angel or a saint; but he believed that he was then and, is still, an instrument of change, who understood that change and economic reforms are synonymous; therefore the momentum must be maintained for the sustainability and economic prosperity of an indestructible Nigeria; this action demonstrates that he (IBB) is a thoroughbred revolutionary and quintessential Nigerian.

He truly understands that in leadership, ‘consensus’ sometimes is not the best option. 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, the quality of his minister’s remains the best selection of intelligentsia ever assembled to reengineer and propel Nigeria to greatness; many of the foundations put in place by them remains the only visible mark of progress today, and this is almost 22years after.

A cursory look at what notable Nigerians and newspapers said about IBB immediately he became a military-president. The late Dr. K.O. Mbadiwe wrote: “For sure. President Ibrahim Babangida is a leader who is determined to take his people to a goal of self sufficiency and greatness whatever the cost. The road is full of obstacles. He made this fact known early in the day.” The ‘goal-of-self-sufficiency’, came to become the deregulation revolution, called ‘structural adjustment program’ (SAP). IBB was ahead of Greece and many other European nations who are currently undergoing through the same challenges today. Even the United States is currently undergoing through an advanced form of structural adjustment program called ‘economic reform’.

The press praised him:

“Nigerians might have been jubilating in the streets since the country’s latest military coup d’etat but that is certainly not because they disapprove of the latest change of government…They have found themselves where they are, wary of seemingly new heroes…finding no faith in civilian rule, and betrayed by successive military regimes, it is easy for such a disappointed people to be apathetic to events which must necessarily influence their lives and generations unborn.” (National Concord 8/30/85). And;

“Given the nightmarish experience of the recent past, especially the systematic intimidation of people and the derogation of their fundamental human rights, the Nigerian media and people cannot but welcome the coup that saw General Ibrahim Babangida bestowed with the rulership of our beloved country.” (The New Nigerian 8/29/85).

Even today, evidence are abound of a continuation of some of the laudable programs he enunciated; a complete radicalization of the economy; whether it’s called deregulations, economic reforms, or Structural Adjustment Programs (SAP), the truth remains that it was IBB-led administration that started that revolution under the advisement of the best brains available to the country then.

However, 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 If in doubt, go to www.kwenu.com, and www.gamji.com, click on "Max," and simply surprise yourself, or go to African Independent Television (AIT) and Nigerian newspapers and ask for their records. This moment is indeed a special one for those of us associated with the colossus of a man fondly called "IBB" by both friends and foes.

IBB remains a true statesman in our hearts, a gentleman par-excellence, and a man with a remarkable and undoubtedly forgiving spirit, one who is totally committed to a united and indestructible Nigeria.

As he reflects altruistically on his very many laudable contributions to nation building and preservation of the unity of Nigeria, he must reflect on what I refer to as “the salient-what-if?”

1) What if there was no annulment?

2) What if OBJ was not imposed on PDP, Democracy and upon Nigeria?

Can the answers to both questions be attributed to be the wish of God or collective wish of majority Nigerians?

Sir, if you read this piece, as you ponder on these if’s, ponder on what kind of nation Nigeria would have been, because many of us are doing the same.

Please sir, now that you have fully retired from participating in any elective office, kindly extend a strong hand of support to the current president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan; he needs your wealth of experience and strength to save himself from the labyrinth of political sharks and cabals holding him hostage; this senior-brotherly-help from you will help to correct some funny impressions out there about you, and ultimately help a neophyte President strengthen and keep our country united.

Happy birthday sir, may Almighty God, the Most benevolent, and Most merciful continue to bless and preserve you.