The news millions of Nigerians have waited to hear for many years: that brutal military dictator, General Ibrahim Babangida, may be under investigation and face a trial. Could this be true? Or is it just a political gimmick thrown at the tired and worn out ordinary Nigerians by Vice President Atiku Abubakar to gain their sympathy?
Atiku has alleged that concerted efforts were being made to dig up incriminating evidence that would make former military President Ibrahim Babangida and himself ineligible to contest the 2007 presidential election.
Without caution, the Vice President called Babangida his friend, the second time he would tie IBB to himself in as many days. His press statement goes: “The Vice President does not deny that he and some of his friends, including General Ibrahim Babangida, have of late come under an intense searchlight intended to uncover faults that can be used to bar them from higher public office.
“In a further bid to nail the Vice President and General Ibrahim Babangida, the Construction Giant, Julius Berger has equally been directed to produce information on their 40-year existence in the country, showing a list of their directors and shareholders, a litany of all the contracts they did for the Federal Government, states, local governments, businesses and private individuals.”
The Julius Berger Construction Company is the vast organization used extensively by the Babangida regime for just about any dirty deal. It not only constructed edifices, it sold Mercedes Benz and BMW cars as well as foreign currency for the Babangida regime. Another finger is pointed at the arrest and release of Mr. Mike Adenuga, the man whose business success has been speculated to be involved in an intimate relationship with Babangida.
In all of Atiku's allegations, Babangida's name is intricately woven - be it Julius Berger or Mike Adenuga.
It will be very difficult for Nigerians to believe that in the dusk of the Obasanjo administration, confidence has suddenly been found to prosecute the man widely known to be the most corrupt Nigerian leader ever - Babangida.
In the four administrations that succeeded his shameful "stepping aside" in 1993, Babangida had found a way to remain cozy, teleguiding the baby administrations and thereby ensuring he was far stronger than the arms of the law. Even when the EFCC czar, Nuhu Ribadu, boasted he would investigate IBB, he was quickly silenced by the government.
However, the latest revelation, coming from such a high level must be taken seriously. It appears President Olusegun Obasanjo knows those whom he does not want to succeed him, even if he does not know who will.
Obasanjo gave a powerful speech same day in Abuja at the opening of a three-day conference on “Leadership, State and Society under the Shari’a in Nigeria: The Dividends”, with Babangida in attendance, where he stated that bad leaders should not be allowed back in government. When reporters sought to ask Babangida's response to the innuendo, IBB used his Babariga to cover his mouth in an apparent denial of reply.
Said Obasanjo: "Unfortunately, over the years, many so-called leaders have basked in the sun of insensitivity to the realities of the people, squandered resources and opportunities, devalued our dignity, mortgaged our future and eroded all the gains of the post-independence era. A leader that cannot give voice to the voiceless, hope to the disillusioned and direction to the confused cannot lay solid and reliable foundations for peace, progress and positive pluralism, It is, therefore, important that citizens look critically at those that claim to be leaders, those that wish to become leaders and those that are presented to them as leaders. In fact, it is important that we rigorously interrogate such candidates to ensure that we do not repeat the errors of the past. Bad leadership can rapidly undo the hard won gains of a people, organisation, community, and the nation.”
Without caution, the Vice President called Babangida his friend, the second time he would tie IBB to himself in as many days. His press statement goes: “The Vice President does not deny that he and some of his friends, including General Ibrahim Babangida, have of late come under an intense searchlight intended to uncover faults that can be used to bar them from higher public office.
“In a further bid to nail the Vice President and General Ibrahim Babangida, the Construction Giant, Julius Berger has equally been directed to produce information on their 40-year existence in the country, showing a list of their directors and shareholders, a litany of all the contracts they did for the Federal Government, states, local governments, businesses and private individuals.”
The Julius Berger Construction Company is the vast organization used extensively by the Babangida regime for just about any dirty deal. It not only constructed edifices, it sold Mercedes Benz and BMW cars as well as foreign currency for the Babangida regime. Another finger is pointed at the arrest and release of Mr. Mike Adenuga, the man whose business success has been speculated to be involved in an intimate relationship with Babangida.
In all of Atiku's allegations, Babangida's name is intricately woven - be it Julius Berger or Mike Adenuga.
It will be very difficult for Nigerians to believe that in the dusk of the Obasanjo administration, confidence has suddenly been found to prosecute the man widely known to be the most corrupt Nigerian leader ever - Babangida.
In the four administrations that succeeded his shameful "stepping aside" in 1993, Babangida had found a way to remain cozy, teleguiding the baby administrations and thereby ensuring he was far stronger than the arms of the law. Even when the EFCC czar, Nuhu Ribadu, boasted he would investigate IBB, he was quickly silenced by the government.
However, the latest revelation, coming from such a high level must be taken seriously. It appears President Olusegun Obasanjo knows those whom he does not want to succeed him, even if he does not know who will.
Obasanjo gave a powerful speech same day in Abuja at the opening of a three-day conference on “Leadership, State and Society under the Shari’a in Nigeria: The Dividends”, with Babangida in attendance, where he stated that bad leaders should not be allowed back in government. When reporters sought to ask Babangida's response to the innuendo, IBB used his Babariga to cover his mouth in an apparent denial of reply.
Said Obasanjo: "Unfortunately, over the years, many so-called leaders have basked in the sun of insensitivity to the realities of the people, squandered resources and opportunities, devalued our dignity, mortgaged our future and eroded all the gains of the post-independence era. A leader that cannot give voice to the voiceless, hope to the disillusioned and direction to the confused cannot lay solid and reliable foundations for peace, progress and positive pluralism, It is, therefore, important that citizens look critically at those that claim to be leaders, those that wish to become leaders and those that are presented to them as leaders. In fact, it is important that we rigorously interrogate such candidates to ensure that we do not repeat the errors of the past. Bad leadership can rapidly undo the hard won gains of a people, organisation, community, and the nation.”
The statement came against the backdrop of the sacking of Babangida associate and National Security Adviser to Obasanjo, General Aliyi Gusau, who has for long been regarded as an untouchable.
Apparently to protect himself from possible coup plot, of which Babangida is the uncontested expert, the President immediately re-organized the military to give himself added security.
Characteristically, Babangida has been touring the nation with fake smiles plastered on his face, behaving as if nothing is happening, while, in fact, fire may be burning right in his groins.
He has kept postponing his declaration to contest the presidency for over a year. Babangida seems so unsure of himself, and has continued to meet secretly with Obasanjo. It is such meetings that cast doubts over whether the present administration can really try Babangida.
Yet, Obasanjo seems to be demonstrating two characters as he gathers himself together after the failure of his shameful third term bid. First, he seems to be embarked on a legacy-repairing mission, of which nothing will be able to compensate Nigerians better than the the trial of Babangida for his many atrocities. Secondly, Obasanjo appears to have decided to pay back all those who jettisoned his third term project, and IBB was one of them.
If Obasanjo could summon the courage to go through the prosecution of Ibrahim Babangida, it will change Nigeria for ever.
Apparently to protect himself from possible coup plot, of which Babangida is the uncontested expert, the President immediately re-organized the military to give himself added security.
Characteristically, Babangida has been touring the nation with fake smiles plastered on his face, behaving as if nothing is happening, while, in fact, fire may be burning right in his groins.
He has kept postponing his declaration to contest the presidency for over a year. Babangida seems so unsure of himself, and has continued to meet secretly with Obasanjo. It is such meetings that cast doubts over whether the present administration can really try Babangida.
Yet, Obasanjo seems to be demonstrating two characters as he gathers himself together after the failure of his shameful third term bid. First, he seems to be embarked on a legacy-repairing mission, of which nothing will be able to compensate Nigerians better than the the trial of Babangida for his many atrocities. Secondly, Obasanjo appears to have decided to pay back all those who jettisoned his third term project, and IBB was one of them.
If Obasanjo could summon the courage to go through the prosecution of Ibrahim Babangida, it will change Nigeria for ever.
