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PEOPLE AND POLITICS BY MOHAMMED HARUNA Re: 2011- In defense of Babangida
As I promised last week, today I am reproducing a few of the reactions by e-mail and texts I received on my June 2 column on former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida’s declaration that he will contest next year’s presidential elections. Of the 157 texts I received, the one that stood out for its persistence was from one, Ishaya. He texted me seven times, mostly full of bile. The first contained the threat that Babangida “will end up in jail before 2011. Mark my word!” The second wondered why I, “an Igbira man (I happen to be Nupe) with cultural/historical links to Yorubas than Hausa/Fulani would want to be more Catholic than the Pope. Hausas should forget 2011.” Apparently for Ishaya, what matters is not the merit or otherwise of my position but my ethnicity. His next text should interest the security services. Of course, it should also interest the potential victims in case there is some mischief afoot to frame the opposition. “Those who are inciting some boys in the army to topple Jonathan’s government”, Ishaya said, “are known to security agencies and they, including IBB, will be arrested before they strike.” The fourth, which should also interest both sides because of its conclusion, said, “Contrary to the story in The Nation (June 5) by its Northern editor, T.Y. Danjuma is solidly behind Jonathan’s 2011 election bid. Atiku, IBB & Co will end up in jail for treason.” The fifth made the interesting claim that the “Hausa/Fulani” are not the majority in the north” and also that “Northern Christians would remain in PDP to support Jonathan.” The sixth, with some text missing, repeated pretty much the same thing as third. The seventh and last is reproduced in full below. An even more interesting response came indirectly to me by email as a copy of the original the author, Adetokumbo Durosinmi-Etti, sent to the editors of The Nation. I was, he said, an “idiotic and moronic columnist.” The IBB piece, he also said, was the worst article he has ever read in his life. I was, he said, “staggeringly stupid” to say the things I said and concluded his 1092-word diatribe with a command that I should never be allowed to write again. Perhaps the editors at The Nation have found the author’s language too uncivil to publish, perhaps I missed it, but I thought I should share his conclusion with my readers if only because of its irony of the author apparently wanting so much free speech for himself and none for me. “There is,” Durosinmi-Etti said, “so much garbage contained in Mr. Haruna’s write-up. However, much of it is simply too daft, stupid and ill-considered for me to waste my time on. I would simply advise that if you (the editors of The Nation) wish to maintain the high standard of your commentary sections, this scallywag of a quack should never be allowed near a pen again.” So much for free speech. Sir, In those days while we were at secondary school, all we wanted during any speech was to hear "big grammar" or what we then referred to as "harsh words" from whoever was the speaker. The meanings of the “harsh words” do not matter, so long as the words used are "harsh." The hall spontaneously hails and claps for the speaker. Speeches in clear and simple language only make the auditorium dull. It appears this is exactly what has for long been happening with some of us because the harsher a commentator is on IBB (General Ibrahim Badamasi Babngida), the louder the ovation he receives from the side of the ever timid audience. For them, facts, substance or meaning are not necessary when talking of or writing anything about IBB. What is required is to be abusive and harsh on him. As long as there is a childishly naive audience, those hate-driven in the commentariat will keep competing to outdo one another in the art of demonizing the man, IBB. The contest for IBB in the 2011 Presidential election isn't therefore about his return to the Aso Villa alone. It’s also about IBB and the "abusicologists", if I may import my own grammar to describe those who have made it a duty to go irrational in the way they comment on anything IBB. It is certain and for sure that should IBB contest, he will receive tens of millions of votes from across the country the size of which will put his detractors to shame. Shehu Mustapha Sir, Nigeria today is not Nigeria of the 50’s/60’s. What was applicable then in north is no longer applicable. Several Hausa/Fulani religious, & ethnic instigated uprisings against northern Christians, southern Christians and even south-western Muslims, have severed the so-called unity of the north both politically, militarily, and have lost them support also of southern Muslims. If you are in doubt then ask the likes of T.Y. Danjuma, Domkat Bali, Gowon, Solomon Lar, Lateef Adegbite, etc. No indigene from Plateau State, Benue, most of Adamawa, Taraba, Nassarawa, Gombe, Kwara, Kogi, parts of Borno will ever vote for a Hausa/Fulani. Ishaya.
Hallo Mohammed: Anyone reading your column today would get the impression that I had in my article you quoted demanded that Babangida be barred from the 2011 presidential race. I certainly got that impression. Even a cursory reading of just two short paragraphs from my article should show that I do not hold and did not express the view you attributed to me. Here's what I wrote: "But he is not even content to bask in his unexplained wealth. He wants to deploy it to return to power, with the votes of the very people whose sovereignty he had summarily annulled in 1993, and whose future he had mortgaged to serve his own overweening ambition.
"He is welcome to his delusion. I am even prepared to
assert that he has the fundamental right to be deluded, and that I will
defend that right with all the vigour I can muster."
Dear Mohammed: It's always a pleasure to read your articles. At first, when I saw the title of the subject article, I cautioned myself to read it in its entirety before making any comment. True to my instinct, I read it and I agree with everything that you have written. Every Nigerian has the constitutional right to aspire to any elective office in Nigeria including Ibrahim Babangida. Politics in Nigeria appear extraordinarily unique to the country and those of us living outside the shores of the country can only watch, pray and hope that some day, sanity would find a place in Nigeria. It seems obvious that Nigerian politicians are selected based on such inconsequential factors as their ethnic background, their wealth and their age. Based on what we are seeing and hearing right now, 2011 elections may not produce a different result. I neither have admiration for Ibrahim Babangida nor dislike for him. I respect him as a human being as I do every other human being. He only would be able to provide an answer to the question of why he wants to become president of Nigeria after serving eight years as military president. In developed countries, Babangida would have been enjoying life as elder statesman and rarely involve himself in politics. This is also true of Buhari. Ibrahim Babaginda should not contest the 2011 presidential election as you have suggested in your article. Kassim Kano
Sir, Please tell Nigerians how much IBB used in buying your conscience that makes you think you can sell the evil man to us? You are a damned fool! Dear Mohammed, I just read your article, “2011: In defence of Babangida.” I must say it was a two edged sword – defending IBB and at time jabbing him with the nib of your pen. But even as an IBB defense I find your article very balanced and this is a rarity in this land and climes. I think the electorate reserves the right to vote down IBB and not some few self-appointed saints sitting down in one small room. To allow that will be against the very tenets of democracy whose cause they claim to propagate.
Sir, IBB is simply a victim of (Nigeria) Western media propaganda power. As for Obj, there is no comparison between him and IBB. Obj stands out as Nigeria’s worst president. Whatever happened in IBB’s time was a child’s play (compared) to what happened in Obj’s. Corruption? Killings? Tenure elongation? Analyze them… |