Where is IBB

Where is IBB?

Max Gbanite

Ordinarily, Alhaji Salisu Suleiman's piece on the subject: "Where is IBB", published in the prestigious Blueprint newspaper, Monday, may 6^th, 2013, edition, does not deserve a response, given that General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, GCFR, Mni, is such a public figure who the society can’t wish away, but the fact that he (Suleiman) had the mindset of misinforming his readers, accidental readers, and collateral readers when he descended too low to describe the former Military-President, General Babangida, as: "a glorified presence in weddings, funerals and other social events", makes it imperative that Suleiman must not be ignored, at least to keep the records straight.

After reading Suleiman’s submission, I was saddened that a brilliant journalist like him will submit such a write-up for publication, then, it dawned on me that he (Suleiman) may have suffered a “writer’s-block-syndrome”; an illness often associated with writers when they deviate from what they are supposed to write, stop writing, or simply publish rubbish. Again, there is another angle, the same Suleiman may also have suffered from an illness called “retroactive-resentment”; this is a disease associated with hatred or envying of a person for no reason.

To answer the question: "Where is Ibrahim Babangida", IBB is strong and alive, and has challenges with bullet shrapnel’s lodged inside various parts of his body since 1969, courtesy of the civil war, which he fought in, just to keep Nigeria together. The fact that he is seen at weddings, funerals and other social events, he chooses to attend, confirms that he is not dead, and not in any bad condition health-wise. When did it become a sin, a crime, or un-Islamic to attend wedding ceremonies of children of one’s friends or associates; and bidding farewell to friends who have passed on to the great beyond.

Let me refresh our minds here that only Almighty God will continue to reign forever, while mortals like IBB and the rest of us, will reign but for a period. Come to think of it, why would anybody in his right senses expect IBB to reign forever; be quarrelsome; be meddlesome; and interfere in people’s business; or even on government matters, except if, and when the advice is solicited?

There is no gainsaying that IBB, having given his best youthful, and his most active years to serve his country-Nigeria; and at some point, the man deserves to rest, and play advisory role, and that, he is already doing; rather than what Suleiman would prefer him to do. The best time to quit the stage, they say, “is when the ovation is loudest”, and IBB has done more than enough for Nigeria, and he voluntarily considered it wise to distance himself from the center-stage when the ovation was loudest; and, this is a true mark of leadership; and an act of a complete gentleman. We saw Nelson (Madiba) Mandela do it, and even most recently, a sitting Pope Benedict recognized that the ‘young shall grow’, and left the stage.

As a true leader, who understands the workings of democracy, and also understands that when he (IBB) is not in charge, he should and must submit to the leadership in charge, while making his contributions when sought for, and as the need arises. Those who keep records will remember that early last year, he (IBB) announced his decision not to seek election again, and he said: "although I will still be around to give advice to upcoming politicians, I will not seek re-election for any elective office again."

And, he recently demonstrated that when he urged Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the current Speaker of House of Assembly to aspire for higher office. Many have already interpreted that comment to mean that IBB is supporting or urging Tambuwal to contest for President in 2015, against President Goodluck Jonathan, who is also very eminently qualified to continue. The truth is that that IBB’s advice could be for the speaker to consider being a governor, or even a president at some point in his political life, but not necessarily in 2015.

As a former President and one of the leaders of Nigeria that cannot be left out when critical national matters are discussed, IBB has direct access to President Goodluck Jonathan, and can advice him whenever and wherever there is need to do such; he does not need to climb Zuma rock, to broadcast it or even make noise about it. And IBB is very careful in what he does for Nigeria, he has chosen to advice Jonathan privately, and not on the pages of newspaper, or CNN.

IBB should be given the credit for what he has done for Nigeria. Nigerians should ever be grateful to God for an IBB; years after he left office, the man has remained relevant, even when he has chosen to be in the background.

No Nigerian president since after IBB, has been able to replicate the infrastructures put in place in the country; and this he did with minimal funds when oil sold for $8.50 (eight dollars and fifty cents). IBB has shown the perspicacity to lead this country once; and has remained consistent in his resolve for a better and indissoluble Nigeria, even when it goes against his personal interest.

Today, every politician is talking and dreaming of a two-party system for the country, as if they are the progenitors’ of such a noble idea, without giving credit to whom it is due to; and that credit, incase Suleiman has forgotten belongs to IBB’s regime.

Yes, IBB in 2007, and 2011, with rights and privileges conferred upon him under the existing constitution, made attempts to be elected as President on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), a party he helped to form and fund, but when he realized that he didn't get the kind of support he needed, he discontinued and still remained in PDP, unlike some others who left PDP for other parties and, later came back to the same PDP, after ridiculing the party; and, there are those who were President, BOT Chairman, and were almost the same age as Mugabe of Zimbabwe, who said that they have retired from active politics, yet, wants to control the party from a village called Ota. At least IBB has shown that he knows what he wants and what the people wants.

Contrary to Suleiman’s opinion regarding IBB’s place in the annals of Nigeria’s history, especially on the ‘phantom-annulment’ of that 1993 elections, which if all results were announced, could have, with all probability given MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe (both Muslim’s) the right of Presidency, but it did not happen. Whereas the annulment was approved by President Babangida, as he was then called, the real macoy’s remain those young robust, and intelligent members of the then Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC). All of them are still alive, General Sani Abacha excepted; as a matter of fact the current Senate President was prominent amongst these young tuffs, they knew why they encouraged the annulment; the Yoruba Oba’s all knew their roles; and those Nigerian’s who celebrated after, equally knew why they danced on the street after the annulment. However, IBB, in a remarkable show of leadership have since accepted the responsibility.

The emergence of what Nigeria media termed “a rehabilitated ex-convict” as president in 1999, was because many people thought then that the country was over calibrated for destruction, and that the Yoruba’s as a matter of national interest and unity, must be given the ‘first-rights-of-refusal’ to produce the President; and all the political parties followed that trend, resulting in every party’s presidential candidate being a ‘yoruba’. Can the same Yoruba people exhibit maturity and allow other ethnic groups to do such? That will be the day.

However, Suleiman was apt in his assertion that IBB played a prominent role in making sure that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, emerged as PDP candidate. But, IBB could not have done it alone without the collaborative support from Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, GCFR, the then Head of State, who granted Obasanjo pardon, and cleared him to contest; Gen. TY Danjuma GCON (rtd.), former Obasanjo’s best friend, and Chief of Army Staff when Obasanjo, was Head of State (1976-1979); Gen. Aliyu Gusau (rtd), former NSA; Gen. Abdullahi Muhammed (rtd), former chief of Staff to Obasanjo; and some PDP tempestuous-civilian-chieftains, who allowed these generals to compromise them, and impose Obasanjo on the party; and finally, those Nigerians who voted for Olusegun Obasanjo in that election of 1999, and 2003. Therefore, all of us should feel collectively betrayed that Olusegun Obasanjo, did not perform, instead, he left the nation more divided than when we agreed to elect him in 1999. But, ofcourse, IBB will take the responsibility again, because it has become his nature to do such; and that is what we expect of him too.

Therefore, Suleiman must be reminded that the annulment which went against MKO in 1993, and consequenced the emergence of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in 1999 (both Yoruba), have shown that where a President comes from may not truly make one a good president. Whereas, Obasanjo and MKO may be referred to as core-nationalist, but the political-behavior and body-language of the ethnic group that threw them up, in this case, ‘Yoruba’ makes one ponder or to agree with Dr. Ahmadu Ali, of Ali-must-go-era, and former PDP national Chairman”s recent comment that, “the yoruba’s are the most selfish and inconsiderate ethnic group in Nigeria.” Please don’t blame IBB; we must all accept the blame for allowing these generals to confuse us.

IBB by his own choice have opted to emulate the likes of Nelson (Madiba) Mandela, and Pope Benedict; to remain a statesman, and ensure that he contributes to making Nigeria truly a great democratic nation, by not hectoring a sitting president, condemning anyone, or being an elder-rascal.

My clear question to Suleiman is a simple one; does it mean that IBB does not have the constitutional right to attend any social event he wants to attend, be it wedding, funeral or any event whatsoever: and does he owe any one apology for being at social functions?

Alhaji Sanusi Suleiman, I honestly thank you for your kind question, “where is IBB”? Well, he (IBB), is well and alive, missing his beautiful, and graceful wife, Mariam; and still resides in his hill-top residence in minna, where he receive his friends, family members, and even friendly-enemies, and plays with his grand children, while pondering why people like you (Suleiman) refuse to put your life at stake, contest for an elective office and help save Nigeria; instead of asking “where is IBB”?.