From Aideloje Ojo, Minna
Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida yesterday in Minna disclosed the pacts he had with two former heads of state Generals, Olusegun Obansanjo and Sani Abacha that enabled them to assume power at various periods in the history of the country, insisting that he was concerned with the future, security and unity of the nation.
Speaking in an interactive session with members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Niger state, Babangida explained that General Abacha was spared from the mass retirement that hit senior military officers at the time he was stepping aside in 1994 based on the calculation that General Abacha would help to stabilise the Ernest Shonekan Interim Government and douse the political tension that had mounted over the June 12 annulment.
He explained that at the time he “stepped aside”, the situation was very fragile adding that if the military profession was left in the hands of the young inexperienced officers, they would have torn the nation apart with coup d’états
“When we were leaving, the situation was very fragile and if people who were not as mature and as old as we were stepped into our shoes there will be problem. From my calculations Abacha was a gentleman and experienced soldier who commanded respect in the military that could give the Shonekan administration backing”, he said.
“The Junior officers, we reasoned, would be very cautious of General Abacha who was a tough officer and was in the system from Army Chief of Staff to Defence Minister”, he said.
General Babangida said that he was however surprised that as soon as he stepped aside, the citizens of the country and the media began to castigate the Shonekan administration in bad light saying it was worst than a military regime.
He said prominent citizens began to demand for military intervention prompting General Abacha to take over the administration he was earlier mandated to protect.
On his relationship with former President Obasanjo, Babangida said that he had worked to make Obasanjo, his former military boss, a civilian President because of the conviction that he cannot be intimidated by the media or any other organisation.
Babangida said he did not feel betrayed by Obansanjo who is now believed to be working against his presidential ambition.
“I would not want to use the word betrayal on General Obasanjo. My relationship with Obasanjo, has to do with our military training that as a soldier we are very loyal to our superiors. He remained a guiding light when we were growing and when we grew up in the military the bond of relationship continued to grow from strength to strength.
“When we meet we still talk about the unity and stability of the nation. I think we have a common objective. There is no disaffection between us”, he said.
Babangida who said he stepped aside in 1994 in the interest of peace and stability of the nation added that he chose to use the phrase step aside to depict a soldier marching in a Column. He said that he would continue to endure the shouts about his being the problem of the nation.
“People were shouting that I was the problem of the nation and that Nigeria will tear apart because I was the embodiment of all that was bad. Then in the interest of peace, I said ‘I will step aside’”, he said.
It will be recalled that former President Ibrahim Babangida has declared his intention to contest the presidency in the next general elections.
The retired General has also declared his support for the for the continuation of the zoning arrangement in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party. If the arrangement is sustained, President Goodluck Jonathan will not be eligible to contest in 2011, hence paving the way for a Northern candidate to take the PDP ticket.
Comments (27)
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GREED.
The voice of men is the voice of God and if the people are saying they have gotten enough of you the best you can do is to accept their verdict. The Lord has blessed you and dont use that to impose yourself on the same people that were in your support. Please dont allow the sin of the father to affect the children.
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COME BACK AND HELP US IBB
Now IBB you are afraid of dying/death - you see how life is. May you never know peace, may your family perish and may the poor ones take over your properties. May your children die one by one. You may think you have fortune but May God let you suffer throughout your life. Oooo ni sorire! Banza! May you die like a dog, may your body be burnt into ashes. Let the foolish man come out. Let's riot and stone him to death. Arise oh Nigerians here comes the animal to be sacrificed for peace. Let him sacrifice himself for peace so that Nigeria can be united once again.
PITO
Email to IBB
all my brother
IBB, the Satan of the Century
Writting from Australia
Having restored OBJ after serious commitment and, OBJ having being tied with obligations, tried to maintain the stand as spelt out to him, so IBB was untouchable as he (OBJ) was obligated to protect the cabals. Starting from the origin, OBJ never liked IBB and if not for one thing, he would have sent IBB to hell when he was president. Part of the agreement was that OBJ would pass the power to him (IBB) in 2003 like a marathon race so when the time came; there were national and international pressure against IBB so OBJ had to continue so that the tension could douse and watch out for 2007. An American criminal bureau revealed a statistics about IBB that he had looted over US$20Trillion during his military dictatorship. They also reminded us about what IBB did shortly after he overtook power from Buhari when he bomblasted over 120 top rank military officers in an aircraft as he sent them on a purported seminar. He told us it was a plane crash. The Americans also made us to understand that IBB during his regime was using the military special planes to export cocaine to various countries in large quantities there making over US$500M on each shipment. They revealed so many hidden things which majority of Nigerians does not know including the investment (Estate) he got in Texas which contain over 500 units of building worth over US$15B. We are not talking about the one’s he own in Nigeria and other part of African countries and Europe.
Come 2007 and it was time for IBB to be replaced by the PDP, having been given the presidential ticket unopposed. IBB would have been Nigerian president in 2007 until now and, if Yaradua was alive till 2011, whether you like it or not, he (IBB) would have been installed just like they did in 2003 and 2007. As God may want it, OBJ not comfortable to hand over to IBB advocated an idea to replace a northerner who would run for 4 years and then pass on to him (IBB) to complete the rest of 4 years and yes, they reached a truce. So Yaradua emerged and was loyal to IBB having stepped down for him. Yaradua knew he would hand over to IBB when the time comes. Looking for a running mate, Jonathan was chosen and was not responsible to anyone because he was just a vice president. As IBB was warming up for 2011, eventually Yaradua died and, Jonathan who has nothing to do with IBB emerge so the whole thing changed. That’s why IBB could not sleep. He is restless. All his effort over the years turned around. He would wish it was then, he would have stroked. IBB wants to be there to correct lot of mistakes. He needs to discard lot of documents so as to keep all atrocities untraced. He needs to block all lop holes. He just has to be there at all cost but now that Jonathan, a neutral person is there, what would IBB do? We watch as events unfold. Thanks.
...
IBB NEEDS TO BR HUNG
IBB NEEDS SERIOUS HELP
Somebody please help please help before it is too late.
IBB DO NOT USE OR SPOILT MOHAMMED CHANCE TO BE A LEADER, EVEN THOUGH HE HAS NOT MERRIT
You Again?
WHY ARE U ADVISING HIM
ONLY AT BACK SIDE .
WELL ITS TIME TO SEE YOU MORE NOW .
COME OUT , AT LEAST YOU HAVE SEEN WHAT NIGERIAN YOUTHS CAN DO WHEN PUSHED TO THE WALLS.
COME OUT ,YOUTHS WANT YOU OUT , HE WHO PULLS THE TRIGGER FIRST WINS THE DAY .
IBB COME OUT .
ENOUGH OF ALL THESE ADVICE ,
COME OUT ABEG COME OUT.
You Again ? IBB.
Mr.
...
forget the presdency IBB.
Even if you like send all the money you stole, the oil wing fall and the rest, you are going to govern
Nigeria again. All your advisers are just collecting your money.
Nigeria have say Know to you.
And if you did not take time you might die as you trying to get the power by all cost.,
Better go home and Sleep.
One bad turn negates another
IBB have some explanation to do
polital zoning
Why IBB
Question for IBB
Am sorry but if u couldnt achieve it then, then u NEVER will, so Nigerians have said they dont want u so as u ve so claimed that u were so "kind" to keep NIgeria together and in peace, be kind once again and STEP ASIDE!
Mr.
IT SERVES YOU RIGHT,IBB...
To whom God wants to destroy, He first harden hs heart.
nil
IBB destroyed Nigeria, yes, but IBB needs to rule for at least three years more for Nigerians to witness revolution. This may be paradoxical, but it is a matter of spirituality from the shrine of the ancestors. If we do not allow him to rule, we well retrogress for another 32 years, says the ancestors.
" He will rule for only three years plus, and thru him will come the so much awaited Nigerian and African revolution- not a bloody one , fear not son" Says Nkrumah, on 12th June 2010, " Yes, the mother fucker must rule again", Says Fela on Saturday 17th July, 2010.
I am at present in a sixteen day discussion with them and will soon publish the details of their spiritual instruction in the dailies.
Watch out.