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Author: Emmanuel Ukpe
Posted to the web: 7/20/2005 11:59:25 PM

Dear President Bush,

 

When I listened to the second inauguration and state of the union speech, I was totally convinced of your position regarding freedom for the citizens of the world, freedom for the oppressed, freedom from dictators in uniforms and the ones who traded their uniforms with intent to return to power as civilians.

 

I would like to bring your administration’s attention to the political atrocities going on in Nigeria.  Specifically, about a former military dictator who is trying to make a comeback.  Retired General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB), who was credited to have masterminded five out of six successful military coup d’état in Nigeria, is now making a comeback for  the 2007 presidential election.

 

Under Retired General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida dictatorship, Nigeria saw increased corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering, major maladministration, political oppressions and assassinations, journalistic rights suppressed, freedom of speech suppressed, increased human right abuses and the annulment of a democratically elected government.  At present, IBB is gearing up to return to power in 2007.  I am begging you, Mr. President, the US Congress, and other concerned citizens, who believe in free world to please use your good offices to ensure that candidates like Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida does not run or get elected into the Nigerian’s highest office.

 

The fact is that, no Nigerian in his or her right mind would vote to elect Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, but election process in Nigeria is not what you would call free and fair election.  In Nigeria, a politician with more hooligans and money to spend wins election, through bullying, rigging of votes, buying of votes and hijacking of ballot boxes, which is why, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida is confident of returning to power in 2007.  Retired General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida ruled Nigeria for eight years, as a military dictator and he did nothing for the country.  Under his leadership, Nigeria regressed, corruption was at the highest level, all infrastructure grounded due to misplaced priorities, deficient in vision and ideas.

          

Retired General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida’s eight years regime was similar to Saddam Hussein’s, except Saddam provided his people with basic necessities such as roads, power supply, drinking water, schools, operational hospitals and jobs.  These are developments  Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida’s eight years military dictatorship could not achieve, because he and his goons where busy looting the country’s wealth.  Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida lacks vision of progress, because, as a military dictator, he had absolute power to do for the country/people, but choose not to.  It is my belief that if Ibrahim B Babangida returns to power, it will regress further the democratic process in Nigeria, something he does not believe in.

 

Every facet of majority of Nigerians day to day existence remains very challenging in order to improve their quality of life.  I cannot emphasize enough in expressing the need for economic and political stability in that region.  Nigeria is in desperate need to achieve these stabilities and it has been proven that the military dictatorship of Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida lacks vision and as such, cannot realize economic and political stability for Nigeria.  The fact is that without stability in Nigeria, there would be no strategic programs of economic transformation.  Nigerians should not continue to pay for the consequence for another brutal dictatorship in civil clothing in the name of democracy.

 

Right now, Nigeria is like a volcano waiting to erupt, such eruption would destroy not only Nigeria, but the corruption lava would spread and destroy other West African democratic nations that looks up to Nigeria.  To avoid such eruption and maintain a balance, it is important that Nigeria is lead by a conscious leader with a sense of direction that can develop a sustainable economy, infrastructures and effective coalition with various ethnic groups.  A former dictator like Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida lacks the fiscal discipline, honesty and integrity to lead and therefore, he is not, and cannot be the answer to Nigerian predicament in which he created. 

 

Nigeria is a country of intellectuals, educated, conscientious and meaningful human beings, who are capable of fixing the disarray created by Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida in his eight year rule.  Nigeria needs to maintain a political balance in order to move forward, such balance will pave the way for sustainable development, where there is an atmosphere of peace and stability, a balance that does not require the return of a former military dictator who doesn't accept any type of limits or restraints on his civil right abuses, political oppressions, corruption, and boundless self-enrichment.

 

To ensure democracy in Nigeria, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida should not be allowed to return to power, because that might encourage another military coup d’état.

Democratic process in Nigeria will continue to improve and I believe Nigeria economy and political future will be better without Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida’s direct involvement in the political process. Nigerians suffered so much under his eight years of tyrannical regime, he has caused enough pain.  We Nigerians are trying so hard to forget and put the past behind us, so that we can move forward.  Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida’s return to power will not let that happen.  In the name of God, Mr. President, the US congress and concerned citizens please intervene in Nigeria democratic process and stop dictators like Retired General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida from his quest.

 

Emmanuel Ukpe, Silver Spring, Maryland U.S.A.