The Sound Bites From The IBB’s Book Launch -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

The launching of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida’s (IBB) book with the title: “A Journey In Service”, the penultimate week has generated a lot of fuss so much so that many of us are beginning to wonder if there is anything to it other than one contributing his own quota to national discourse. In the comments by those who had chosen to attack the smiling general it was as if the erstwhile military president achieved nothing while he superintended over the affairs of the nation. The attacks were on baseless and unsubstantiated allegations of fraud and abuse of office.

Most of the IBB critics are fixated about June 12 presidential election annulment to notice that the election of 21 governors and 63 senators and many house of representative’s members were truncated through Abacha’s coup that was endorsed by MKO. And so as one of my colleagues observes quite aptly, the advocates of June 12 are either hypocritical or ignorant of the goings-on in the Nigeria political landscape. Many of those criticizing IBB for an annulment that was not entirely his own making but has taken responsibility for are in power today; and have done worse than annulment by indulging in electoral malfeasance. They also forgot that MKO Abiola whom they are routing for has a tattered democratic credential, being a staunch supporter of military rule.

I am an advocate of truth, equity and fairness and if MKO Abiola is to weighed on these scales, he would score emphatic zero. He was one of those who benefited unfairly from military politics. He used the military for ascendancy to power and influence right the time of Murtala Ramat Mohammed. It is therefore not a surprise to me that the same platform that he used to rise to stardom became his undoing. Thus, the annulment of the said vexed election might be justice in disguise. And IBB was just a tool used by God to administer natural justice. It sounds ironical given that the general and Abiola were best of friends.

Beyond the June 12 brinkmanship, all the allegations against IBB are neither here nor there. I did not see what they accuse IBB of that has not been committed many times over in the present regime or by the previous regimes after. Strangely, those who accused IBB of introducing the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) have not been able to design an alternative to it thirty-two years after he left power. And those who said that the key actors in the IBB transition programme era are dead are only being mischievous. General Abdulsalam Abubakar is alive, Senator David Mark is alive, Atiku Abubakar is alive, Amb. Babagana Kingibe, the MKO running mate, is alive, Prof. Jerry Gana is alive, Dr. Walter Ofonagoro and many others are alive. And even if many are dead does that invalidate the truth. Are they suggesting that IBB should not have written his book since some of the actors of that era are dead?

Without doubt, all the fuss generated from the book launch indicates that the Prince of the Niger is still a dominant force in the nation’s political landscape. And without fear of contradiction, I make bold to say that IBB remain the most outstanding leader in Nigeria in terms of governance. I believe that rather vilify the Prince of the Niger, he should be commended for his mea culpa which is a sign of honesty and ethical leadership. Yes, I believe that IBB should be commended for taking responsibility for the June 12 1993 election annulment that some believe in some quarters to be fait accompli.

General Ibrahim Badamosi may have his failures and weaknesses as a man but he is a good man and great one at that. Many who were fortunate to have an encounter with him can attest to this. The encomiums coming from the guests at the book launch bear eloquent testimonies to the sterling attributes of this legendary general. It is unfortunate that kind-hearted general did not invest in the media like Awolowo, Abiola and Tinubu but that does not mean that the truth about his enormous contributions and role in building our nation should be rubbished. Although, I am not here to countervail the numerous lies and half-truths being peddled about our amiable general, but, as a patriotic Nigeria who believe in the unity of this great nation, I see it as a bounden duty to speak out in matters of this nature for the future generation.

It is a fact of history that IBB came to power in 1985 at trying period in our nation’s history with political, economic and social instability. He stabilized the nation, reorganized the security architecture, make right appointments, designed good policies, build institutions and developed programs aimed at developing and strengthening the nations development strides. But clearly, as some have rightly observed, these programs as lofty as they are did not get the approval of those who did not want to change the status quo. But, when the history of leadership and governance in Nigeria is objectively written, IBB will take his rightful place as an achiever irrespective of what his traducers say.

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed
hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com
An actress, social activist, politician
London, UK