May 21, 2010
I am more of an avid reader of Newspapers than a listener of national TV stations like NTA, AIT, etc. This is because I feel television News stories are sometimes doctored or subject to political rigmarole and not as thorough as Newspaper journalism. This is merely my opinion. However, for sometime now, I have been reading, with alarming increase, articles and stories speculating – again – about the return of former Military President cum Dictator, Ibrahim Babangida (popularly known as IBB) to the political terrain to pursue his presidential ambition.
I am more of an avid reader of Newspapers than a listener of national TV stations like NTA, AIT, etc. This is because I feel television News stories are sometimes doctored or subject to political rigmarole and not as thorough as Newspaper journalism. This is merely my opinion. However, for sometime now, I have been reading, with alarming increase, articles and stories speculating – again – about the return of former Military President cum Dictator, Ibrahim Babangida (popularly known as IBB) to the political terrain to pursue his presidential ambition.
Of recent, his spokesman, Prince Kassim Afegbua and other Pro IBB groups have taken to PR window-dressing of IBB as the man who understands Nigeria better than any other Nigerian and therefore is the man the people of Nigeria need as their next President come 2011 or beyond. Of course, what we see happening now is IBB and his supporters doing what they do best – cleverly and gradually encroaching into the Psyche of Nigerians while trying to down play the obvious fact that IBB CANCELLED THE FREEST AND FAIREST ELECTION this country has ever had with unabashed impunity. And he has the gall not to apologize for what he’s done! Rather he has the effrontery to look Nigerians in the eye and say:
“I conducted the best election and I annulled it. Every President, a leader, must be respected for taking responsibility for anything good or bad. As a leader I accepted it. Every leader makes mistakes, I am not an exception.”
Does that sound like an apology or an arrogant declaration from a former dictator? That statement comes across as someone who cannot be bothered by what we make of his past actions and is telling us to our face to ‘take it or leave it, I did it, so?’ When people make mistakes, they apologize. They say words like ‘I am sorry’ or ‘forgive me.’ They show remorse, a form of repentance, they make restitutions, some resign, some amend their ways but whatever happens, an apology must precede restitution or reconciliation to those who have been hurt for healing to take place. Until that happens, there is no closure and therefore, no progress to the next level. Notable examples abound: Nixon apologizing to Americans on the Watergate scandal; Bill Clinton apologizing to Americans on the Monica Lewinsky affair; Gordon Brown to Britons on the Bigot issue; our own YarAdua to Nigerians on the 2007 unfair elections; and IBB to Nigerians on the cancellation of the 1992 elections??? His unapologetic stance leaves much to be desired. I mean, something is direly lacking in a leader who feels too big to apologize to the very people he wants to lead. Was it not Benjamin Franklin who said “it takes many good deeds to build a good reputation and only one bad one to lose it? Character counts and we know your character by the things you do or do not do. While IBB has clearly shown how arrogant, proud and conceited he is, he should very well remember that he can fool some of the people, some of the time, he can fool some of the people all of the time but he cannot fool all of the people all of the time. Nigerians are not fooled.
When I read in ‘Thisday’ Newspaper of 30th April, of how Prof Wole Soyinka, some AC members and others shunned the “One man, one vote” rally held in Benin because former military dictator, President Gen Ibrahim Babangida was invited, I stood up and applauded. I applauded for the few Nigerian leaders who are courageous enough to stand for that which is true and right and walk away from that which is wrong. I applauded because it gave me and others like myself hope that there is only so much Nigerians will put up with. There is hope that even when Gani Fawehinmi is gone, the battle for the soul of Nigeria will continue to be fought by patriots like Soyinka who still believe in the power of the Nigerian people.
While I must not hesitate to acknowledge that IBB has every right to contest for the presidential position if he so desires, I also must call on every Nigerian who has the interest of Nigeria to disqualify him as a credible candidate for power belongs to the people and not to PDP or any other party.
Recently, an article by Yusufu Olaniyonu of “Thisday” titled: “Why Are We All Waiting on the PDP?” caught my interest. Yusufu wrote that Nigerians are more interested in the process that elects an American President than in the process that elects a Nigerian President. While I understand his reasons for expressing such sentiments, I do not agree with him. What has taken Americans over a century to achieve under a democracy, will also take Nigeria a while to get used to. Our democracy is still nascent as compared to other developed nations of the world who practice democracy. Nigeria has been under years of military rule for several decade and this thing called ‘democracy’ needs getting used to too. The mentality of the 70s, 80s, 90s did not require Nigerians to question those in authority or position of leadership over them. But this millennium has ushered in an era where advanced technology has granted Nigerians easy access to information in a democratic dispensation. And many Nigerians are still learning what to do with the power of information. Give us some slack Yusufu, we are trying. In addition, the American Elections and what it does for democracy can be liken in principle to what the Oscar awards, American Pop Idol or Big Brother Africa does for the entertainment industry. They are all founded on the same principles of competence and excellence in a highly competitive environment. The rules of the game are clear, transparent, accountable, and easy to understand, easy to follow; ambiguities are rare and can be worked according to the rules. If the people or the crowd like you, they vote you in, if they don’t, they vote you out. Period! If your character is questionable and they cannot trust you, then in Nigerian parlance, you’re on your own o.
In nations like America and Britain, there is Party integrity amongst members. Being a leader didn’t give you the passport to do anything and get away with it. No one imposes any candidate on the party or the people. The opposition party is active, lively and on the go. If you felt you could do better, you could always challenge the incumbent and you would not be frowned upon for doing so. Unfortunately I cannot say the same for the political parties in Nigeria. Like I told Yusufu, one must not be a registered or card carrying member of any of the 54 political parties in Nigeria before one is considered serious or patriotic. And I am yet to see any party that has defined in black and white, the terms of engagement on what they stand for. If there are, they need to be out in the public eye orientating the Nigerian populace. Nevertheless, power still belongs to the people!
Chalya Princess Miri-Gazhi
Keep Investing in Developing Nigerians Initiative
Of recent, his spokesman, Prince Kassim Afegbua and other Pro IBB groups have taken to PR window-dressing of IBB as the man who understands Nigeria better than any other Nigerian and therefore is the man the people of Nigeria need as their next President come 2011 or beyond. Of course, what we see happening now is IBB and his supporters doing what they do best – cleverly and gradually encroaching into the Psyche of Nigerians while trying to down play the obvious fact that IBB CANCELLED THE FREEST AND FAIREST ELECTION this country has ever had with unabashed impunity. And he has the gall not to apologize for what he’s done! Rather he has the effrontery to look Nigerians in the eye and say:
“I conducted the best election and I annulled it. Every President, a leader, must be respected for taking responsibility for anything good or bad. As a leader I accepted it. Every leader makes mistakes, I am not an exception.”
Does that sound like an apology or an arrogant declaration from a former dictator? That statement comes across as someone who cannot be bothered by what we make of his past actions and is telling us to our face to ‘take it or leave it, I did it, so?’ When people make mistakes, they apologize. They say words like ‘I am sorry’ or ‘forgive me.’ They show remorse, a form of repentance, they make restitutions, some resign, some amend their ways but whatever happens, an apology must precede restitution or reconciliation to those who have been hurt for healing to take place. Until that happens, there is no closure and therefore, no progress to the next level. Notable examples abound: Nixon apologizing to Americans on the Watergate scandal; Bill Clinton apologizing to Americans on the Monica Lewinsky affair; Gordon Brown to Britons on the Bigot issue; our own YarAdua to Nigerians on the 2007 unfair elections; and IBB to Nigerians on the cancellation of the 1992 elections??? His unapologetic stance leaves much to be desired. I mean, something is direly lacking in a leader who feels too big to apologize to the very people he wants to lead. Was it not Benjamin Franklin who said “it takes many good deeds to build a good reputation and only one bad one to lose it? Character counts and we know your character by the things you do or do not do. While IBB has clearly shown how arrogant, proud and conceited he is, he should very well remember that he can fool some of the people, some of the time, he can fool some of the people all of the time but he cannot fool all of the people all of the time. Nigerians are not fooled.
When I read in ‘Thisday’ Newspaper of 30th April, of how Prof Wole Soyinka, some AC members and others shunned the “One man, one vote” rally held in Benin because former military dictator, President Gen Ibrahim Babangida was invited, I stood up and applauded. I applauded for the few Nigerian leaders who are courageous enough to stand for that which is true and right and walk away from that which is wrong. I applauded because it gave me and others like myself hope that there is only so much Nigerians will put up with. There is hope that even when Gani Fawehinmi is gone, the battle for the soul of Nigeria will continue to be fought by patriots like Soyinka who still believe in the power of the Nigerian people.
While I must not hesitate to acknowledge that IBB has every right to contest for the presidential position if he so desires, I also must call on every Nigerian who has the interest of Nigeria to disqualify him as a credible candidate for power belongs to the people and not to PDP or any other party.
Recently, an article by Yusufu Olaniyonu of “Thisday” titled: “Why Are We All Waiting on the PDP?” caught my interest. Yusufu wrote that Nigerians are more interested in the process that elects an American President than in the process that elects a Nigerian President. While I understand his reasons for expressing such sentiments, I do not agree with him. What has taken Americans over a century to achieve under a democracy, will also take Nigeria a while to get used to. Our democracy is still nascent as compared to other developed nations of the world who practice democracy. Nigeria has been under years of military rule for several decade and this thing called ‘democracy’ needs getting used to too. The mentality of the 70s, 80s, 90s did not require Nigerians to question those in authority or position of leadership over them. But this millennium has ushered in an era where advanced technology has granted Nigerians easy access to information in a democratic dispensation. And many Nigerians are still learning what to do with the power of information. Give us some slack Yusufu, we are trying. In addition, the American Elections and what it does for democracy can be liken in principle to what the Oscar awards, American Pop Idol or Big Brother Africa does for the entertainment industry. They are all founded on the same principles of competence and excellence in a highly competitive environment. The rules of the game are clear, transparent, accountable, and easy to understand, easy to follow; ambiguities are rare and can be worked according to the rules. If the people or the crowd like you, they vote you in, if they don’t, they vote you out. Period! If your character is questionable and they cannot trust you, then in Nigerian parlance, you’re on your own o.
In nations like America and Britain, there is Party integrity amongst members. Being a leader didn’t give you the passport to do anything and get away with it. No one imposes any candidate on the party or the people. The opposition party is active, lively and on the go. If you felt you could do better, you could always challenge the incumbent and you would not be frowned upon for doing so. Unfortunately I cannot say the same for the political parties in Nigeria. Like I told Yusufu, one must not be a registered or card carrying member of any of the 54 political parties in Nigeria before one is considered serious or patriotic. And I am yet to see any party that has defined in black and white, the terms of engagement on what they stand for. If there are, they need to be out in the public eye orientating the Nigerian populace. Nevertheless, power still belongs to the people!
Chalya Princess Miri-Gazhi
Keep Investing in Developing Nigerians Initiative
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