DID IBB HELP OBASANJO TO DANCE NAKED?
It is no longer news that Ibrahim Babangida was the main man amongst many others who went to Otta abode of Obasanjo after his (OBJ) release from prison, for the purpose of getting the ex-convict to throw his hat into the ring for the then presidential contest.
It did not take Obasanjo too long, after some ‘spiritual’ consultations to stand for elections, within his preferred party – People’s Democratic Party of Nigeria, and the national politics.
Ibrahim Babangida is fast becoming more popular than Obasanjo, and is now seen as more credible than, or say better in intelligence than the once viewed democratically inclined Obasanjo.
A one time popular American President said: “it is better to remain silent and thought a fool, than to speak up, and remove all doubts”. It is a tragic reversal for Olusegun Obasanjo who before his return to power was seen as a believer in democracy, now to be clearly appraised as a hater of basic principles of democracy.. A formerly appraised statesman or self acclaimed intellectual whom Wole Soyinka described as “nte le sua sua”= (threading unintelligently), has tragically seen a reversal of fortune. He is seen by majority of Nigerians even from his own party as a dictator who has never appreciated the principles of fairness or freeness. He has variously been noted as the bastion for thrashing democratic contents in his party’s primaries before the May 2007 elections, a simple believer in brutal force or anarchy, while many of the governors in his party, behind his back, see him as roguish bulwark against all contrary views.
Ibrahim Babangida has always been a foxy personality. He is very calculating, intelligent in his own ways, very friendly with generosity, and has what Obasanjo may never have, the patience of a vulture.
IBB must have thought of many angles before lending himself to the project in 1999. That of bringing a Yoruba man into play, one that would be amenable to the whims and caprices of the North. He must have considered all possible outcomes and his personal gains too. There was the preponderance of anti IBB cries, the need to be in the winning team by IBB, the need or ability to maintain some balancing in the political schemes to come, and the person of IBB – always wanting to be relevant.
It was the vintage IBB who went out of his shells to talk to his former boss, but playing up the act for the whole world to see his role in bringing the ex-military president to join the political fray. It was cleverly let out to the Press that IBB had not only convinced OBJ to come out but also promised to get him the money for the run. OBJ was obviously broke and his farm in almost total ruins and his bank balance reported to be about 20,000 naira.
IBB was interested in seeing OBJ dance naked, revealing the whole deceits of the man whose reason for letting power go in 1979 was not love for democracy but his feeling for self security.
The North was solidly behind the drafting of Obasanjo, majority of their retired soldiers too, and the reactionaries who felt Obasanjo would protect their interests, and were scared of the Southwest supported Falae.
Obasanjo got solid support from the North but his people, who know him very well, gave him a vote of no confidence in the Southwest. He actually lost in his ward and the polling booths right across his house in . The underlying implication of not being supported by the progresive and sophisticated southwest was not lost on Obasanjo nor his supporters, and his opponents within PDP took strong notice too.
Ibrahim Babangida took notice too, but silently prodded Obasanjo on, telling him that they got his back. The same tactical IBB had his men in some positions within the new regime, keeping him informed of the moves by his man to make some popular moves to attract the support of his southwest. OBJ promised to institute a Commission like that of to unearth some truths concerning matters of public interest and also of high concerns to IBB.
IBB quickly sent emissaries to OBJ in order to stop any embarrassing Commissions, the latter who had started to feel confident with the support of Atiku, and his PDM organization, refused to budge. Trust IBB with many tricks in his bag, he swiftly resorted to some blackmailing issues and many newspapers in were suddenly publishing the little business in which Obasanjo was involved. It was one in which Obasanjo took some huge amounts of money from the government of IBB to handle some matters for in . The publication did the trick and OBJ quickly reduced the power of the Commission but IBB also denied any link to the exposure. The Commissions lacked bite because OBJ did not give any, and IBB won.. OBJ later paid him back in his own coins by using the EFCC to scare him out of the race for the 2007 Presidency.
Presently, IBB is basking in the euphoria of the huge dismantling of the notion that OBJ was a democrat. The whole world including Jimmy Carter of United States of America have now come to see Obasanjo in his true color. It is now a joke in the parlance of IBB to ask the question: “Who has danced naked?”
Obasanjo will be very lucky if as always been to survive a probe of his stewardship between 1999 and 2007. He will need to beg IBB, Atiku and others in order to survive such probe which will reveal his deceitful self to the world.
The various regimes before Obasanjo did not preach about fighting corruption or sermonize about being clean. They are dofferent because their siblings, in-laws and children were never caught with public scandals during their time in power. In fact, their children were not involved in scandals as OBJ’s.
It is now a debate amongst Nigerians, at home and abroad that Obasanjo may perhaps qualify, as the most corrupt Nigerian leader alive. He has been confirmed as leading more by precepts than by examples. His many actions and utterances during his eight years typify him as the “adajo owu” – the unfair judge as in the comedy of Baba Sala - the popular Nigerian comedian.
It was a time when he determined what was right or wrong, who was qualified or not, and what law to obey and not to obey. It was really an ‘area boy’ administration, apology to Tinubu.
He deceived Nigerians about probity and accountability while his friends stole deeply from the public purse with impunity. His loyalists among the governors never got any EFCC call while any one outside got strident calls from the anti corruption body.. His children got busy with government patronage and businesses while others got pushed around for wanting same.
His daughter is presently in the eye of the storm for acts bordering impersonation and breach of public trust – using a fake name to sign a contact . This was done while serving as a public officer, using her father's position.
His son too, made huge noise all over but suddenly went quiet after embarrassing his father many times with involvement in government politics and businesses. These were ones who complained bitterly against same father before 1999..
There is also the talk of how he sold some national monuments to friends and acolytes for less than the worth of these institutions. He also had a Fund raising ceremony in which government contractors donated billions into his coffers while still in office as the President! These huge donors later purchased the refineries and others from him, as “thank you” gifts?
The man Obasanjo has been assisted to dance naked by IBB who must be asking Nigerians today about the fluke in the earlier respected Obasanjo as a democrat. His transition has been generally agreed as the worst in the annals of Nigerian history, and his uncouth thrust to riggers and thugs to do or die in the elections will go down in history as that of brigandage.
He must also be regretting his unwise war and tactics against Atiku which backfired in his face. Atiku had helped to reveal that the former president was neck deep in corruption, while Dariye’s revelation too hit OBJ deep down his body. He had to quickly arrange a refund of money gotten from Dariye’s after being exposed that he was involved. Nigerians were shell shocked of what President Obasanjo did in office as let out by Atiku’s can of worms.
The present government in needs to distance itself from Obasanjo in all aspects, and also follow up by probing all the activities of 1999 till 2007.
Obasanjo was very strong in criticizing IBB in his years as the military president. He won some commendations for accusing someone of having no humane feelings with his policies. His civilian era was worse, fighting against all unions, and increasing fuel price many times to the discomfort of Nigerians. Seems to have lost most respects in the international community, has tragically reversed from so called statesman to townsman, and is even having some sleeplessness amongst his townspeople!
IBB has cleverly pushed OBJ into this naked dancing, and see who is laughing now!!!
John Ayodele
bishopbode@hotmail.com