Responding to a question on why he was not interested in younger politicians ruling the country, Babangida had responded thus, “Because we have seen signs that they are not capable of leading this country and so, we feel we should help them. May be they are not given the proper education, that is why.
“I have spent 17 years since I left office... But a country like Nigeria cannot be ruled by people without experience. People like Obama that you are speaking about have the experience.”
However, Babangida’s position angered many politicians on Sunday, as they described it as warped.
Those who reacted on Sunday include a senator; the Afenifere Renewal Group; a former governorship candidate in Lagos State; and the Convener of the Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare.
The Deputy Minority Whip in the Senate, Olorunnimbe Mamora, said Babangida’s position was consistent with the realities of what the older generation of Nigerian leaders had done to the country.
Mamora said, “ I disagree with Babangida. What he said is consistent with the realities of what the older generation has done to this country. It is the older generation that has brought this country to its knees. I am conscious of avoiding generalisation, because there are a few older generation politicians that have been good to this country.
“Even if you look at the older democracies, it is the younger generation that is making all the difference. Look at Obama, Tony Blair, Clinton, etc. These are people in their younger ages who have made impact. Why should the case of Nigeria be different?”
The governorship candidate of the Democratic Peoples Alliance in the 2007 elections in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, said it was time for the former military president to be demystified.
Agbaje stated, “He is in for a big surprise come 2011. He forgets that he and many of his mates governed this country as members of the young generation. What experience or education did he have then? With electoral reforms and commitment by Nigerians, IBB will withdraw from the race. Or else, he will be demystified.”
The ARG, through its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said it was obvious that Babangida had passed a vote of no confidence in the same section of the population from which he was seeking votes.
Odumakin stated, “IBB has passed a vote of no confidence in the younger generation and still wants their votes to be President. It is a challenge for us to ask him to dissolve the younger generation and elect another to vote for him. Seventy-five per cent of our population are under 45 and they owe it a duty not to allow IBB annul them.
“There must be a youthful presidential ticket for 2011 around which the younger generation must be mobilised. The Obama generation must thank IBB for this rude awakening.”
Also, the Serving Overseer, The Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, described the statement as a bundle of contradiction.
Bakare, who spoke in LRA on Sunday, wondered the special qualities the older generation possessed that were lacking in the younger ones that would allow the older generation to lead Nigeria till eternity.
The cleric said, “This is a master of contradiction and treachery. How can you say there is no qualified younger Nigerian that is qualified to lead the nation? You have done your own part and you also want to appropriate the lot of the younger generation. What sort of wisdom does he have?”
“Which school did he attend that other Nigerians did not attend? Let him know that he is a political dwarf pretending to be a political giant,” he said.
Bakare restated his position that IBB had not had not apologised to Nigerians for annulling the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
“He only said he took responsibility for what happened; was that an apology? ‘I take responsibility, so, what can you do?,’ that’s the meaning,” said the cleric, who explained that he was not in support of the younger ones that canvassed that the older generation should be wiped out.
“I can’t support the campaign of the young ones that say the older generation, having being identified as the problem of the nation, should be wiped out. Gowon was a bachelor when he became the head of state; he was barely 30 when he married. So, what are we talking about. But the righteous God will do justice in Nigeria.”
The SNG convener disclosed that the group would be organising a programme in Abuja on May 5, where the group would set “a new political agenda” for the country.
Bakare added that the meeting would be attended by representatives of the caucuses of the Senate and House of Representatives as well as officials of the Presidency.
“We want to set a new political agenda for the country; it is time for us to tell these politicians that there is a standard that the citizens of the country expect of the leaders which they must not go below. We have been taking for a ride for a long time. We are talking to this generation to reject the likes of thieves. We are taking this campaign to all sections of this country but we are starting from Abuja on May 5,” he said.
