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Former Nigerian military ruler to run for president
By Felix Onuah.
Nigeria’s former military leader Ibrahim Babangida is planning a political comeback by running for president nearly 25 years after he first came to power in a bloodless coup, his spokesman said on Monday.
Babangida, 68, seized power in the OPEC member state in August 1985 and went on to rule Africa’s most populous nation for nearly eight years. He was forced to step down in 1993 after he canceled an election that was generally regarded as fair.
“Yes, General Babangida has decided to contest for the presidency under the (People’s Democratic Party) in the 2011 presidential election,” spokesman Kassim Afeagbu told Reuters.
“He is only waiting for the party timetable before he will formally declare.”
He is the first major politician to publicly announce his intention to run, and he will campaign for a smaller federal government focused mainly on defense, foreign policy and the economy, leaving the rest to the states and local councils.
The ruling PDP party is expected to hold primaries in the next few months to choose their presidential candidate for the general election, which must be held by April 2011.
The race for president is expected to be wide open since many believe ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua will not seek re-election.
Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has assumed executive powers in the absence of Yar’Adua, who remains too sick to govern and has been out of the public eye since November.
Though 17 years have elapsed, Babangida’s reputation has not fully recovered since he annulled the poll, in a move that paved the way for another army dictator Sani Abacha to take over.
Analysts say voters will also be concerned about his age, reluctant to vote for another leader who may not survive a full four-year term.
“After his June 1993 election problems. He will have considerable challenges in terms of his credibility,” said Bismark Rewane, head of Lagos-based Head of Financial Derivatives.
“He will also have a generational problems at his age. You need someone with a lot of vigor and energy to deal with Nigeria’s huge problems.”
Rewane said Babangida would be good for business as he initiated crucial economic reforms during his administration.
“There’s so much bureaucracy in government. It makes government too expensive,” Afeagbu said. “He wants to run a slim government that will be less bureaucratic and less expensive at the federal level. ref: Reuters. Reporting by Felix Onuah; Writing by Randy Fabi; Editing by Giles Elgood and Simon Cameron-Moore.
I am Legal Practitioner and also an Author of many Books (Book Writer). I have devoted my time for the past 13 years in making constant research in the public and private libraries, newspapers and magazines, internet, among others, while look for solutions for Nigeria’s economic, political and social problems. Indeed, I have finally gotten solutions to my nation’s (Nigeria) economic, political problems as contained in my books thus: THE FOUNDATION FOR A NEW UNITED NIGERIA,GUARDIANSHIP OF NIGERIAN DEMOCRACY, REVIVAL OF NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC POWER,JUNE 12, 1993 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, THE FOCUS OF A VISIONARY LEADER IN NIGERIA, SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA.
President Ibrahim Babangida is the redeemer of Nigerian democracy. He should come back to power by 2011 as the President of Nigeria and continue his good work for Nigeria. The truth is that the circumstances surrounding the conduct and cancellation of June 12, 1993 Presidential Election can never destroy great achievements made by President Ibrahim Babangida’s regime.
The Highlight of General Ibrahim Babangida’s achievements while in office has proved that his regime witnessed a whirlwind of activities, and more policy initiatives and fiscal measures than all other past regimes in the country. Some of his achievements include:
The establishment of new Universities and Polytechnics.
The movement of Federal Capital from Lagos to Abuja.
The reorganization of the Nigeria Police into seven Zonal Operation Areas.
The unemployment grant to States for agricultural programmes and vocational skills.
Establishment of Mass Mobilization for Self-Reliance Social Justice and Economic Recovery (MAMSER).
A 46-member Panel to review the 1979 Constitution.
The creation of Akwa Ibom, Katsina, Abia, Anambra, Delta, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Osun, Yobe and Taraba States and over 136 new Local Government Areas with take off grants.
Direct funding of Local Government Areas from the Federal Government to make them autonomous.
National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA).
National Orientation Agency (NOA) formerly known as the ‘‘Mass Mobilization for Self-Reliance Social Justice and Economic Recovery’’ (MAMSER).
National Directorate of Employment (NDE).
Federal Environment Protection Agency (FEPA).
Lagos Third Mainland Bridge.
Federal Urban Mass Transit programme.
The 1991 National Population Census (NPC).
National Women Commission.
The Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DIFRRI).
Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
National Housing Fund.
Commission of the Onne Fertilizer Plant in Rivers State.
The 260 million dollars Petrol Chemical Plant in Kaduna.
Establishment of four (4) bodies in one day National Population Commission,
National Revenue Mobilization Commission, Code of Conduct Bureau and Code of Conduct Tribunal.
NNPC Escravos- Lagos Gas Pipeline at Egbin,
National Electoral Commission (NPC).
Elesa Eleme Refinery in River State.
Children Trust Fund.
Resumed diplomatic relations with Israel
Central Bank Autonomy Decree,
Others were: NAFDAC; Ecomog; Reduction of import duties on newsprint, etc.
In fact, the list of achievements made by President Ibrahim Babangida’s regime is endless and it cannot be exhausted here, but more can be found in other books written by this Author entitled: “Guardianship of Nigerian Democracy”-foreword by President Ibrahim Babangida and also “The Foundation for a New United Nigeria”
08062723355, 08054161961 (parabarth@yahoo.co.uk)
The Babangida phenomenon: Let truth be told (1), by Tunde Fagbenle
Punch .The case is worse, where a country, in this modern day and age, relies on its old, used, re-used, worsted, and perverse former leaders to give directions and lead it into economic and technological salvation; its beacon of hope. Sad is such a country. And old Babangida and his ilk are at over 70, in this computer age where the average age of those at the helm of affairs, in government, business, or finance, is 40. But it must be said, and quickly too, that, as the Yoruba would say, omode l‘ogbon, agba l‘ogbon, l‘a fi da ile Ife – meaning, the wisdom of the young and the old is the origin of Ife land. And, also, ti omode ba n‘aso to agbalagba, ko le ni akisa to agbalagba – meaning, if the youth can match the elder in the number of fashionable clothes he has, he certainly cannot claim ownership of as much rags. The import is clear, although a spiteful youth could wonder of what use are rags anyway.
Babangida‘s declaration of intent to run for president of the country has jumped onto the front burner of national discourse. He is being taken seriously, and if only to prove to himself that he has not been consigned to the rubbish heap of history, the heat his declaration has generated, and continues to generate, is proof enough.
All of a sudden, the country is awake, the sun is shining, the newspapers are making hay, pro-Babangida folks are rubbing their hands already in anticipation of action. Babangida running is now the debate in every beer parlour, every university staff club, every town hall, everywhere home and abroad.
The Internet is abuzz. To be sure, the divisions are also very sharp, as to be expected. Those up in arms – ready to do battle, even die – against, are as many as those equally up in arms and ready to die for this enigma called Babangida. There is no telling where the pendulum would swing in a free and fair battle. Either side is passionate, even if one is more vociferous than the other.
Vociferous, yes, and given to cacophonous hullabaloo. And the tendency is for those with the dominant din to get wrong in their calculation into thinking that their louder noise means greater number or substance. It is a source of worry for those of us who share objection to an Babangida’s second-coming (shouldn‘t beat Christ to it, should he?) and would not want Babangida as president again for a myriad of reasons.
The facts on ground and dispassionate reasoning sadly do not bear their optimism out. Yet anyone who simply steps back and tries to present an objective analysis of the situation – if only to form part of any strategic thinking and opposition stratagem – is jumped at, ready to be pilloried as an infidel or traitor. O ma se o.
Myriad they are, reasons why a Babangida is not it and shouldn‘t be it, at this point of our national life. Many of the reasons have been flying all over the Internet and regular media: stolen wealth in the billions of dollars; murderous and villainous atrocities; institutionalising corruption; SAP-ing and sapping the country‘s economy; and many more. As to be expected, some of these are grossly, even improbably, exaggerated, and many are fictitious. I am certainly angry that not much has been incontrovertibly pinned down to him, no incontrovertible evidence of assets or bank accounts anywhere in the world in the figures being bandied about; no court action at all and certainly not one resulting in a court indictment or conviction. We even once had a fire-spitting Ribadu there who was saying all the right thing against Babangida and gave us hope that something would come up to pin the evil-genius to the wall – all to no avail.
The reason, however, may not necessarily be because these evidences are not there. Methinks it is more because the whole country and those who govern and determine what holds or falls are the very same people who are holding this country to ransom, keeping us all on the leash. And they are all birds of the same feather, equal rogues or beneficiaries of the very system that breeds and feeds Babangida and the lot. Here we talk of Obasanjo, Danjuma and Gusau. Buhari is out of it and not a civilian in sight.
But we must go back to Babangida and his chances as a come-back-kid. I want to wager some bets: Babangida has more supporters in the South than in the North – in spite of the anti-Babangida noise. If he walks the streets of Delta State or even any other South-South or South-East state, the multitude that would follow and hail him would create a mini earthquake.
Babangida has more supporters in the South-West than the anti-cacophony would accept – and this is evidenced by the headquarters of his South-West campaign in Ekiti State. Which brings me to the other wager, seeing that Ekiti stands for book or dogon turenchi. Babangida has a significant support amongst our academics, intellectuals, and opinion leaders. Many professors would line up behind him any day, many governors (as we now hear of Gbenga Daniel, Oyinlola, etc), many industrialists and economists (as we now hear of a Falegan, Akinyele, etc). So wherein lies the substance of our hope that a Babangida venture will fail?
The big story is the person of Babangida and the character of Nigeria and the Nigerian. Ours is a God-forsaken country. With values completely upside down, the majority of Nigerians worship money, money, and more money. Big-time rogues don‘t get jailed, and when and if they do, they make re-entry on a white charger with a whole community or tribe hailing the return of their hero – some hero.
Then there is the person of Babangida, charming, generous, thoughtful and kind person if ever there was one, as anyone who has met or had dealings with him would attest. Babangida would drop on you in the middle of the night, he would remember your birthday, he would call you by first or nick-name, like MKO Abiola he would remember the name of your wife and children, he would come to your aid when you are most desperate and your world is about to end. You‘ve got to owe Babangida a favour – even if it is the favour of your silence rather than damnation; Omerta, as the mafia keeps.
But Babangida is evil, and like the Esu of Yoruba mythology, a charming devil indeed
IBB is not running for election. You guys should understand his game whenever elections are at the corner. This man does not want to be probed and his government they embezzle what some say could be about the size of the country's budget for two years. When he threaten them that he wants to run for presidency, and because he is very wealthy and others are afraid of him, then they go into an agreement "when you are there you will never probe my government". This is what he is doing.
Who are they ruling anyway? They are fighting for money. It's a shame that people would be sovering the way they are in a rich nation like Nigeria. What does Babangida want? Go sit down old man, we need new and fresh blood to run our country.
Please your excellency you need to read this beautifully written book – The RealDeal by Emmy Nwachukwu before you make your final decision at coming back as Nigeria's President. I will contact Emmy to come on this site and make contributions. Thanks AW, Ibadan, NIGERIA
Pls sb hlp me advise IBB dt he shdnt try 2 poke his fingers in God's eyes. Let him read abt king Nebuchadnezzar in d Bible. Tho' he's a muslim, @least, he'll learn som lessons.
The bane of Nigerian politics is recycling old, tired and wasted leaders of yesteryears who have no new ideas. Allowing IBB to lead Nigeria again will be tantamount to allowing an old man who raped your wife to rape your daughter.
He should be in mourning for his wife not contesting elections.
THIS GUY HAS NOTHING NEW TO OFFER. NIGERIA HAS GONE PAST THE AGE OF INEPT LEADERS. THIS IS 2011 WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AND NOT 1993. IF HE INSISTS ON RUNNING, HE HAS GOT NEMESIS OF POSTERITY TO CONTEND WITH AND WE SHALL BE WATCHING.
Nosike Ndu Azubogu The beginning of the end for him.
Yesterday at 9:47pm ia facebook.com/USAfrica
Ezumah Davis, Los Angeles:
I do believe that stiff protests n' opposition to his candidacy will force him to drop his bid. He Is exploring the fighht ring now, n' if he finds it too small, he will bow out.
Yesterday at 8:57am · via facebook.com/USAfrica
Gbola Bowale X ….tell am say "we dey wait for am"!
Yesterday at 10:59am · via facebook.com/USAfrica
Samuel Ukaobasi: MARADONA AGAIN!
U BETTER THINK TWICE. WHO KILLED DELE GIWA? …..BABA, if you add NGIDA na you sabi
Yesterday at 10:03am · via facebook.com/USAfrica
Arthur Chukwuma, Lagos:
Agreed Chris, from the recycle bin he's perhaps the best choice. It's a case of the devil you know…
Yesterday at 10:01am · via facebook.com/USAfrica