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Author: MONSOUR SHITTA-BEY.
Posted to the web: 5/14/2010 9:31:46 AM
 

These are exciting times in Nigerian politics as the race heats up for the most prestigious office in the land. Perhaps, without a doubt, the name on almost all Nigerians mind, a name that refuses to go away, one that stirs up strong emotions on both side of the divide is that of the gap toothed General from Minna, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, IBB as he is fondly called.

Ever since he made clear his intention to run for the top post he has been receiving bullets from his critics left, right and centre. This sustained action could probably be as a result of the Band Wagon effect. A situation where, when one is being pilloried, bystanders or observers will want to participate. This is particularly true judging from the always emotive content, often repeated alleged sins (alleged sins since found to be unfounded by the Generalâ's explanations at various times and different forums), blatant disregard for available facts and an uncanny ability at calumny against IBB.

A case in point is the comment in one of the popular dailies on the presidential bid of IBB made by a serving lower house member where he used unprintable words on the General. Honorable Dino Melaye’ comment, whose real legacy is starting a boxing match, throwing chairs and tables and plotting to cause disunity in the sacred house of representative were unguarded, not in tune with present realities, lazed with shocking and bizarre choice of words unworthy of a house of representative member. I have no doubt in my mind that if the late former governor of Kano state Alhaji Sabo Bakin Zuwo were alive he would have in his characteristic manner asked him Who is father was?, who his mother was ?and the Bastard that sent him?.

Again we must learn to eschew politics of bitterness and self interest. The campaign of calumny embarked upon by Pastor Tunde Bakare and Bishop Mike Okonkwo is rather unfortunate. It becomes immediately apparent that the whole idea is to re-enact a modern day Martin Luther King style revolution, but they ignored, fundermentally, that of Reverend King was issue based rather than personalities. The whole spectre lay credence to the study conducted by a psychologist DR Akinfala of the psychology department, university of Lagos where he found out that proliferation of churches does not translate to increase in piety as negative vices continue to be on the increase.

Any student of history will appreciate that in a country like Nigeria, a happy arrangement for its people would be a separation of church/mosque and state and temporal powers from religious leaders are not meant to fan out the embers of hatred and disunity.

A lot has been written on the administration of the spirited man of action IBB, take one of his alleged sins, his Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) for example. It was among other things meant to reduce the countryâ's debt and its reliance on money earned from exporting oil and devaluating the currency to stimulate export other than oil. The policy actually showed remarkable success in the first two years before succumbing to unforeseen forces. Even at that it demonstrated the responsive ability of IBB to quickly embark on a policy reversal. If you take a good hard look now at his chief critics, you will notice they were active participant of his administration. A good example is Professor Wole Soyinka who chaired the Federal Road Safety Commission. Interestingly, he boycotted the ONE MAN, ONE VOTE rally organized by comrade governor Adams Oshiomole in Edo state citing the presence of IBB. With all due respect distinguished Nobel laureate, I know you have fought many good fights this is not one of them.

The annulment of June 12 general elections, adjudged to be the freest and fairest election in the history of this country is easily the most identifiable albatross of the IBB administration. Again, the General acknowledged the missed opportunity but maintained that his hands were tied at the time. Without delving into the realm of speculation, for someone whose lifeâ's work has been selfless service to the unity of one Nigeria why should we not accept his explanations and give him the benefit of doubt.  It is such a delicate affair that even after subsequent government not one as yet is able to do something about the June 12.It was a forgiven people that re-elected former president bush for a 2nd term in office after starting a war that needed be in the first place.

As we match towards 2011 polls what should agitate our minds should be electoral reforms and credible leadership. A full implementation of the justice Uwais report would set the stage for free and fair election. Apart from identifying credible leader, his plan for a successful Nigeria must also be thoroughly scrutinized; we are not talking of leaders with pipe dreams but a leader with a plan that is practicable and realizable.

I look with favour at the next candidate for president of the federal republic of Nigeria who has already made up his mind to run for the top job, working hard and campaigning in that direction and not pretenders to the throne who will appear at the 11th hour to cause division in the polity.

A participatory leader who already has a plan of action for the myriads of problems bedeviling the country and ready to defend such plans whenever he is called upon to do so.

A selfless leader who understands the murky waters of Nigerian politics, its pains and agitation for fast development in tandem with comity of nations.

A transparent leader who sees one Nigeria, where no individual is judged based on his region or ethnicity, where development is holistic  and not one sided, where there is adequate provision for the children, the aged in our society, the al-majiris in the North and the destitute in the South. For, what kind of nation are we if we cannot cater for the weak and defenseless in our midst. A Nigeria where the life of a single citizen is held sacred, the embarrassment of the crisis in governance that lead to the death of thousands in such places as Maiduguri, Jos, Bauchi etc should be a thing of the past. We share a common destiny and together we can build a glorious nation of our dreams.

A courageous and disciplined leader who will strengthen the judiciary and empower the law enforcement agents. For it is this supremacy of the rule of law backed by requisite power to act expeditiously that will ultimately ensure elimination of corruption from our society.

Finally, A Nigeria distracted by a futile rebranding exercise from an intellectual who should know better, a Nigeria with a comatose educational system and moribund health care sector needs an experience leader who will focus on building institutions and systems in the country.

Indeed, I see Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida as such a leader. All this pull him down syndrome at all cost should stop. He should be judged based on his commitment to the unity of this country for over 3 decades and his plan for a prosperous Nigeria. I do not take the antics of his critics seriously nor should you.