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A Rejoinder to: IBB’s Two Party Solution By Max Gbanite
Chido Onumah, an award winning writer/journalist, and brilliant writer, wrote a piece with the above title; published on Saharareporters and various other online pages; dated March 21, 2013. The writer demonstrated his ‘retroactive-resentment’ of Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida; on issues that have long been settled in the history of Nigeria.
I chose to respond to this essay because of the misguided information targeted at the young ones of today. On paragraph six, Chido wrote, “What IBB failed to mention was his role in the crisis that led to foisting Obasanjo on Nigerians. It is important we deconstruct IBB because we, as citizens, are central in understanding his newfound penchant for democracy and the rule of law. For those too young to remember and those who have conveniently forgotten, IBB was military president of Nigeria from August 27, 1985, to August 27, 1993. IBB claimed he overthrew the Buhari regime for its highhandedness even though, as Chief of Army Staff, he was very much a part of the regime.”
The truth is that IBB is a lover of Democracy; and with his colleagues played a crucial role in the emergence of Obasanjo; IBB boys, planned the coup that overthrew Gen. Buhari, and installed IBB as the President of Nigeria from August 1985, to August, 1993; IBB also served as Chief of Staff when Buhari was the Head of State; therefore there is nothing to deconstruct. Lies cannot replace truth. I say this because Chido Onumah’s paragraph six was an attempt to juxtapose his paragraph five.
And on that paragraph, he claimed that, “the media asked IBB why he orchestrated the return of Obasanjo to rule Nigeria again in 1999, and IBB said, the need to save Nigeria from looming crisis gave rise to bringing back Obasanjo. We have to simplify a lot of things without going back to what happened before; the emergence of Obasanjo came about as a result of what happened in the country; the country was in a very serious crisis and we had to find the solution to these problems and therefore we needed a leader known in the country, we did not believe in foisting somebody who is not known; so, we looked for a man who has been involved in the affairs of this country, who held positions either in the military or in the cabinet and who has certain beliefs about Nigeria. Now, all of us that were trained as armed forces, there is one belief that you cannot take away from us; we believe in this country because this is part of our training. We fought for this country, so when you have a situation like that, you need a leader that has all these attributes and quite frankly, he quickly came to mind.”
IBB was right. The “we” as Nigerians came to find out were Generals T.Y. Danjuma, Aliyu Gusau, Mohammed Abdullahi, and a few others. They first convinced the then president, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, to grant Obasanjo (a convicted coup-plotter) pardon. That was done. They proceeded to the Peoples Democratic Party convention in Jos; and convinced the leadership that Obasanjo should be their party presidential candidate; and they agreed. Do we blame IBB, and his colleagues; Definitely-not. The blame must be placed on PDP leaders, who agreed to that disfigurement of democratic infrastructure. They allowed the military they claim to hate, to foist Obasanjo, on them. IBB should not be blamed for telling the media the truth. Had the politicians said no, the matter would have been settled.
Chido Onumah continued, “Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, also known as IBB, must be a deeply-troubled man; a retired general haunted by his past. There is no other way to explain his constant attempt to intrude into our national psyche after ruling the country for eight inglorious years. The former military president never misses an opportunity to show how relevant he is even though history can’t support that delusion. The recent merger of major opposition political parties to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) provided a good opportunity for him.”
The issue of ‘intrusion into our national psyche after ruling the country for eight inglorious years’ does not arise because IBB, is still a Nigerian; a former President who attends National Council of States meeting as a member; a BOT member of Peoples Democratic Party. The constitution, allows him the right to go anywhere, speak as he wishes, provided his actions are within the confines of the laws of the land; and he has not broken any yet. As for showing “how relevant he is even though history can’t support that delusion.” Wrong again, history has shown that IBB is relevant in Nigeria since he joined the Nigerian Armed Forces, where he served with diligence, became a military-president-dictator, stepped aside, tried to re-enter in 2007 and 2011, but was ambushed by Obasanjo’s political improvised-explosive-device; and he retired from politics, in his own terms.
Events since his retirement has proven his relevance: In 2003, Dr. Alex Ekwueme went to seek IBB’s support for his bid to contest the Presidential elections against Obasanjo; in 2007 Gen Buhari went to seek IBB’s support for his presidential ambition; in 2011, Buhari and his running mate, the big-mouthed-pastor, Tunde Bakare, went to minna, to seek IBB’s blessings for the elections; and the loquacious Nuhu Ribadu, followed after them, despite his illegal-strong-arm tactics against IBB’s son, when the former was Chairman of EFCC, yet without shame, he went; and IBB blessed all of them, and gave monetary support too.
On his 72nd birthday celebration, President Goodluck Jonathan in his congratulatory message, praised IBB’s “life of outstanding accomplishments.” He further said, “I join your family, numerous friends and well-wisher to thank Almighty God for His continued guidance, protection and provision for you in the past seventy-two years of a life of outstanding accomplishments.” And, the Senate President, David mark followed with, “as a quintessential statesman whose leadership qualities remain a reference point in contemporary Nigeria…General Babangida remains a true statesman and a nationalist who believes in one indivisible, united, peaceful, and progressive Nigeria….a man whose goodwill cuts across ethnic and religious boundaries.”
Recently, five PDP governors went to consult, and seek his advice on matters relating to the currently situation in the Party. If IBB is not relevant as Chido Onuma essayed, then the above occurrences’ must have happened in Niger Republic; and the word ‘relevant’ has taken a different meaning. IBB is relevant today as he was in the past.
Chido claimed that IBB said, “When I introduced two party system, you people said I am a soldier, now you have seen why I went for two party system. I am happy for the emergence of APC. It is a welcome political development’’, IBB noted. The self-styled evil genius has since gone ahead to expand on his two party theory. Though a founding member of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), IBB said he had not made up his mind on the political party to vote for in 2015, and that he was leaning toward voting for the APC. "I have enough time to think and I am thinking and they will be anxious to come and see me, he boasted.”
IBB is still in PDP, and will support the party’s candidate in 2015. So why did Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, former Speaker 2003-2007, a member of PDP then, who later joined CPC, and now in APC, along with Mallam Nasir-leaks El-Rufai, a former member of PDP, who served as a minister on same party, and now in CPC; a man who stole IBB’s land in Abuja, while as minister, and allocated same to his wife, pay a visit to IBB in minna, after the registration of their new party APC, If IBB is not relevant? Allah y’ isa.
The truth is that Nigerians crave for a Two-Party system, and there seems to be a certain regret amongst the political actors today that that Two-Party-Infrastructure, is what we need in order to have a thriving democracy; and none with a sense of history will dream or talk of Two-Party system without seeing a vision of IBB manifest; he was the Architect. The Idea was muted in a private discussion IBB had with his then IGP, and later NSA, Alhaji Muhammadu Gambo, Mni, GCON.
IBB reflected on the Two-Party system, convened his egg-head advisers to get the ball rolling. A political Bureau was established, amongst them were intellectuals like; Dr. Tunji Olagunju, Professor Sam Oyovbaire and Professor Tunde Adeniran. They were charged with the responsibility of fashioning out an acceptable time-table, and modalities for a vibrant Two-Party system that will endure. They made their submission, and their white paper was further discussed, and adopted by an inaugurated committee comprising of eminent Nigerians: Major General Paul Omu (Chairman), Brig. Gen. Oladipo Diya (V. Chairman), Commodore Ndubisi Kanu, Brig. Gen. AB Mammam, Air Vice Marshal Nura Imam, Prof. Ikenne Nzimiro, Prof. Jonah Elaigwu, Prof. AD Yahaya, and Alh. Lateefat Okunnu; {source: Impressions and facts: Nigeria under General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, 1985-1993, Center for Democratic Development Research and Training}. Therefore, IBB did not just impose a Two-Party system, it was properly planned, a time table for actualization established and followed. The result became what everyone in Nigeria old enough to know, calls “the freest and fairest elections” ever held in our country; and they are correct.
At this point, I must concede that the annulment was not the best that could have happened. However, there are many external intrigues that led to it which remains classified. The most important thing is that a successful election was conducted without bloodshed under that regime. If Nigerians want to know the full disclosure, they should ask the national assembly to declassify the records.
Mr chido Onumah, as the late Afro-beat maestro, Fela Anikulakpo Kuti, sang, “Teacher don’t teach me nonsense.” May I suggest that you don’t feed our unborn generations ‘nonsense’? Keep the truth flying; it is by telling the truth without name calling that you earned the laurels that adorn your walls.
And, to General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Mni, GCFR, I salute you as you celebrate another year. You once remarked that, Pa Obafemi Awolowo is the main issue of discourse in Nigeria because he was relevant then, and even in death. Today you have become the ‘issue’ and will continue to be, even after death; InshAllah.
Amongst your many legacies, the Two-Party system, with the game changer called ‘Option A4’ remains what our country needs in other to save democracy and its infrastructure. We will always appreciate your calm and timely interventions on National issues. Your Excellency, Happy Birthday Sir. |