{"id":5477,"date":"2020-03-14T09:50:43","date_gmt":"2020-03-14T09:50:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ibrahimsheme.com\/?p=5477"},"modified":"2024-10-14T09:59:44","modified_gmt":"2024-10-14T09:59:44","slug":"ibbs-dilemma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ibrahimsheme.net\/?p=5477","title":{"rendered":"IBB\u2019s Dilemma"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><strong>(First published in Abuja Newsweek magazine in March 2003)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>General lbrahim Badamasi Babangida is reputed as one of the intelligent leaders Nigeria ever produced. His style of leadership, which in the main consisted of dribbling political actors and pundits and confusing them about his next move, reminded us all about the game of soccer, hence his earning the sobriquet \u201cMaradona\u201d. After years of manipulating the political scene to his utmost advantage, the only goal that he seemed to have kicked away from the goalpost was the election of Chief Moshood Abiola. For, though the then President had in many ways done things that supported the motion that he actually wanted to succeed himself, the circumstances didn&#8217;t favour him. So he was forced to \u201cstep aside\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>All that was, of course, history.<\/p>\n<p>What confronts the retiring general now is an apparent hard choice between the devil and the deep blue sea. To wit, he may be in a fix over whether to continue to support President Obasanjo or throw in his lot with Gen. Buhari. This dilemma must be gnawing at IBB&#8217;s conscience and could well be a decisive factor in the final outcome of the April 19 general election.<\/p>\n<p>If we delve into history again, we would remind ourselves about just how IBB worked behind the scenes to garner support for Obasanjo who had just been released from prison and drafted him into a presidential race. Reports copiously pointed at incidences in which the Minna-based tactician first advised the Abdulsalam regime to let loose the former Head of State, then persuaded OBJ to change his negative perception about Nigeria&#8217;s future and join politics, and indeed how he convinced many doubting and suspicious Northerners to vote for him. Other reports said IBB&#8217;s own money and other resources were liberally spent in order to see the victory of Obasanjo and many others in the PDP. How much all these were truth one cannot say, but the fact is that IBB\u2019s support had contributed to OBJ\u2019s sweeping victory in 1999.<\/p>\n<p>Four years since then, events have drastically changed and presented important challenges not only to the generality of Nigerians but also to Babangida as a person. To say that Obasanjo has failed to redeem his campaign pledges is to state the obvious. Political statements relating to the alleged marginalisation of the North in favour of the President\u2019s Yoruba land in the Southwest apart, consider the deteriorating economic and social landscape. From communications, health care delivery, agriculture, security of lives and property to fuel, the nation is in a more dire condition than it was under the much maligned Abacha regime. Corruption, which the President so much promised to eradicate or, as he says today, minimise, has grown manifold. So bad is the situation that Nigerians look back on Abacha\u2019s time with nostalgia and regret; only a small minority of the populace that benefits from OBJ\u2019s largesse points at some positive gains of his leadership.<\/p>\n<p>One cannot pinpoint at the specific gains made by IBB from the present leadership. Yes, he might have escaped a possible investigation of his stewardship (which could have even become an impossibility even if the government had given in to the pressure by the loquacious Lagos-Ibadan press to check him out). This is even assuming that IBB did what he did for OBJ for his personal gain only. And it is doubtful that IBB, being someone obsessed with how history would remember him, would descend so low into taking crucial decisions of national importance such as supporting a presidential candidate only for selfish reasons.<\/p>\n<p>Many analysts believe that IBB, who is regarded as some sort of a fox, had supported OBJ\u2019s candidature four years ago because he was concerned about Nigeria&#8217;s future. His tactless cancellation of the June 12 election had presented a real threat to the survival of the nation, and that was worsened by both the strong hand regime of Gen. Abacha and the subsequent death of Abiola, a Yoruba man. It was perceived that in 1999 the circumstances did not favour a leadership by another Northerner as the Yoruba are breathing fire and brimstone and the mob among them have started shedding the blood of Northerners resident in their towns. IBB, together with many influential Northerners, rooted for OBJ and even used their resources to ensure that he got into the Aso Villa. And they succeeded.<\/p>\n<p>Now with Obasanjo proving to be both biased and incompetent, what should be the choice of people like IBB? Should they still support the ongoing hideously expensive \u2018ta-zarce\u2019 project or work for change? Ordinarily, this question should be answered by IBB himself. His recent romance with Buhari&#8217;s candidature, as perceived in their recent meeting in Sokoto, has sent tongues wagging.<\/p>\n<p>Whatever his intentions are, IBB should know that he and all other Nigerians are once again at the crossroads of yet another momentous national event. His action or inaction in the coming polls shall be an instrumental factor in how history views him in the future. But here is an unsolicited advice from a simple citizen: don\u2019t ever repeat the same mistakes you have been making in the past. The mistake of supporting OBJ is something the present generation is agonising over. Indeed, it is the North\u2019s June 12. IBB\u2019s solving of the Yoruba&#8217;s \u2018June 12\u2019 has created a &#8216;June 12\u2019 for the North. IBB can help solve the latter by solving his \u2018problem with Buhari\u2019 &#8211; i.e. the mutual antagonism that Buhari himself has since discarded in the spirit of political expediency. IBB sir, history, like Big Brother, is watching you.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_5477\" class=\"pvc_stats total_only  \" data-element-id=\"5477\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/ibrahimsheme.net\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(First published in Abuja Newsweek magazine in March 2003) &nbsp; General lbrahim Badamasi Babangida is reputed as one of the intelligent leaders Nigeria ever produced. His style of leadership, which in the main consisted of dribbling political actors and pundits and confusing them about his next move, reminded us all about the game of soccer, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_5477\" class=\"pvc_stats total_only  \" data-element-id=\"5477\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/ibrahimsheme.net\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":5478,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[463,461,455,462,456,75,458,465,460,464,457,459],"class_list":["post-5477","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-columns","tag-chief-moshood-abiola","tag-general-elections","tag-general-lbrahim-badamasi-babangida","tag-general-muhammadu-buhari","tag-general-olusegun-obasanjo","tag-ibb","tag-june-12","tag-mko-abiola","tag-nigerian-presidency","tag-obj","tag-tazarce","tag-transition"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":16,"today_views":0},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - 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