Peoples Daily

Former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida is set to declare for the nation’s topmost position tomorrow. Group Political Editor, Musa Simon Reef, revisits the issues that have dogged the candidature of the former military ruler on his chances to return to power.

Former military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida is set to turn his heat against his critics, as he mounts the podium tomorrow to declare for the nation’s topmost position. Before last month, some political observers have always seen the presidential ambition of the Minna General as residing in the realm of imagination. For those who have seen IBB as not serious with his dream of returning to power, the recent constitution of his campaign organisation, headed by the Chairman of Daar Communications Plc, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, is a pointer that the retired general is committed to the 2011 project. When he recently had an interaction with the nation’s editors at his Minna residence, he left no one in doubt that he was ready for the rigours of returning to power after he declined to contest in 2006 against late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua.
With tomorrow’s declaration, it has become obvious that IBB is set to prove his critics wrong, as he has resolved to not to disappoint his supporters. Before now, there have been doubts that the former retired general may not contest, following the body language of President
Though President Goodluck Jonathan is yet to declare his interest for the elections, it is very clear that he is already in the contest before his formal declaration. The recent decision by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the issue of zoning and the attendant ambiguous resolution on the issue by the party reveal that Jonathan is as good as being in the race.
The major feud in the power rotation agreement of the PDP has been centred on the right of the North to reclaim the presidency in 2011, following the demise of President Umaru Musa Yar’adua. With former President Olusegun Obasanjo supporting Jonathan, there seems to be a conspiracy that is focused at ensuring that the sitting president continues beyond 2011.
Ahead of the polls, the candidacy of IBB has elicited heated debate across the nation, with commentators divided over the choice of the former Military President. While his supporters have declared that the right person for the job is IBB, others have stated that Nigerians have no business electing the gap-tooth general in 2011.
Despite fears of alleged imminent defeat in 2011, the IBB camp has remained resolute and upbeat that the man to beat is the Minna retired General. Director of Media and Communications for the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Campaign Organisation, Prince Kassim Afegbua, is of the opinion that IBB is the man to watch in the 2011 race. Despite the presence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the latest entrant in the race, Governor Bukola Saraki, the prospects of the former military ruler is bright and cannot be dimmed by any other contestant.
Describing Atiku as someone that has a personal capacity in the race, he said only IBB possesses the capacity of getting the right connection to every nook and cranny of the country.

The anti-IBB perspective for 2011
In the build up to the 2011 presidential campaigns, several issues have been identifies as constituting impediments to the realisation of the IBB presidential ambition. One of the issues is the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election which was presumably won by the late MKO Abiola. For heading an administration that annulled the polls, some commentators insist IBB has no right to contest the 2011 polls.
Another issue that has trailed the IBB campaign is the corruption allegations against his administration. Though IBB has consistently denied such allegations, his critics have continued to allege that corruption was the hallmark of the military regime he headed.
During the administration of Obasanjo, the former president had debunked such corruption allegations, saying that if anyone has facts on such charges, such a person was free to come forward and present them so that the government can commence prosecution. None came forward and the Obasanjo government was silent on the matter.
Closely linked with the issue of corruption is the $12.4 billion oil windfall that was allegedly squandered by the regime of the man that is also known as the Maradona. His critics are wont to remind Nigerians that it was during the regime of IBB that the $12. 4 billion revenue generated during the Gulf War period simply developed wings.
To buttress their facts, the critics said that the Dr Pius Okigbo Report that investigated the alleged disappearance of the funds was said to have indicted the former Military President.
The brutal assassination of the founding Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch, Dele Giwa, is another moment that has not been erased in the memory of Nigerians. Though former Lagos lawyer Gani Fawehinmi tried to bring the perpetrators to book, the anti-IBB camp has always alleged the complicity of some top military officials in the IBB regime. After several court cases against some top officers, the accused military officers were let off the hook. At the Oputa Panel, IBB was invited to appear before the commission, but he quickly headed to the court, where he got an order not to appear.
There were also cases of extra-judicial murders, as well as allegation of military officers framed up for staging coups. There are reports of human rights violations, among others. All these issues, according to commentators, remain a hindrance to the IBB dream.
In surmise, Kayode Wole, an anti-IBB commentator said, “Another reason why IBB should not be given a chance to contest is that he is a spent force, what does he have to offer that he could not give to us during his regime as a maximum military ruler?
He had every opportunity in the world to deliver on his numerous promises, what but did Nigerians get from him? The institutionalisation of corruption, the squandering of $12billion Gulf War oil windfall, gross abuse of fundamental human rights, the killing of Dele Giwa and Nigerian military officers, the annulment of June 12 elections and other atrocities too numerous to mention.”

Why IBB wants to be president
Pro-IBB groups have sprung up in nooks and crannies for the country calling on former Military President to come out for the 2011 elections. Though the war is now restricted within the PDP over the presidential primaries ticket, it is obvious that the days ahead may see some of the IBB’s foot soldiers being dragged out of the trenches for full blown operations.
The present controversy on death threat issued to Dokpesi, and the altercations between some groups in the Niger Delta over Babangida, indicate that easing out IBB out of the way may not seem easy as some commentators have predicted.
One fact going for IBB is his enormous capacity to build bridges across the length and breadth of the country. He is one of the very few leaders in this country that can boast of such a trait.
IBB is quoted as saying, “Meanwhile, all my life I have built bridges of understanding across our great nation. I have held wide consultations and discussed with various people from all occupations to set a new developmental agenda for the country we dearly love.”
Lending his voice to the half-truths that have trailed his characterisation, the gap-tooth general noted, “I am fully aware of the ferocious and acrimonious misrepresentation and sometime outright distortion of my character and general contributions towards the greatness of our country. Various administrations investigated several allegations levelled against me to ascertain their veracity and the law courts examined and passed judgment on some of these allegations.
“Some of our compatriots who would prefer rumour mongering to concrete policy debates design most of such political mudsling and    unsubstantiated impressions.”

Can he turn the tables against Jonathan?
Ahead of the formal declaration billed for tomorrow, IBB is known to possess the prowess to rally his force to battle the incumbent President for the PDP presidential ticket. Political pundits are already predicting that the battle for the PDP ticket is strictly between IBB and Jonathan. Though the game now is that of negotiations among contenders, the issue over who emerges is too close to be predicted.
Tomorrow’s event, no doubt, represents a milestone in the race for 2011. How it turns out to be at the end for IBB would depend on how he deploys his political sagacity and reconnect with forces in various parts of the country to combat the pro-Jonathan hawks in the PDP.

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