Introduction: Arisenigeria organisation is a representation of progressive thinking and the hope for the masses in Nigeria. It was setup to mobilise the Nigerian people to take ownership of Nigeria’s political machinery.
Introduction: Arisenigeria organisation is a representation of progressive thinking and the hope for the masses in Nigeria. It was setup to mobilise the Nigerian people to take ownership of Nigeria’s political machinery.
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Again, Nigerians are faced with the prospect that GENERAL IBRAHIM BADAMOSI BABANGIDA, the former Nigerian dictator (August 27 1985 - 27 August 1993), who is an aspiring presidential candidate in the 2011 presidential elections, instead of answering questions on the record of his previous eight (8) years misrule of Nigeria, could become the next President of Nigeria.
Whilst it is the right of any normal Nigerian to aspire to lead our dear country, General Ibrahim Babangida cannot be considered as a normal Nigerian in the type of new Nigeria, which we stand for; for the reasons of his antecedents. There is a saying in Nigeria that while the name of a king who reigns when the town is peaceful will be remembered, the name of a king who reigns when the town is not peaceful will equally be remembered; but for different reasons. Babangida in his untidy and hurried exit from the Nigerian Presidency left behind a largely negative legacy, which almost every Nigerian can remember with trepidation. He left Nigeria in disarray and turmoil; deliberately programming the country to self destruct as a result of the political impasse he created. The very fact that he wants to return to the seat of power as President 16 years after his first sojourn there still leaves us with a resentful taste in our mouths. It is said that once bitten twice shy; this is a tragedy, which we are ready to avoid at all cost and we seek the supports of every well meaning Nigerian, friends of Nigeria and the international community to help us fulfil this.
WHY NIGERIANS ABHOR GENERAL IBRAHIM BABANGIDA
The tragedy that is Babangida first befell Nigeria and Nigerians when he came to power through a coup d’états on August 27 1985. He imposed himself on us till 27 August 1993 during, which time he terrorised Nigerians physically and psychologically:
* Babangida did not preside over Nigeria in the interest of Nigerians. Instead, he freely looted its treasury and supported her foreign detractors to do likewise.
* Babangida devalued the naira and accepted all the conditionalities of the IMF and World Bank. He implemented the neoconservative Structural Adjustment Economic policy, which drastically increased the number of Nigerians that lived below the poverty line. The scheme single-handedly wiped out the Nigerian middle class, and left behind a mass of poverty and a docile well beaten society.
* Babangida allowed the explosion of drug trafficking activities in Nigeria, such that Nigeria became a major drug transit and money laundering route.
* Babangida rusticated the intelligentsia who are mainly found in the universities and other tertiary institutions, forcing them out of their jobs for daring to lead the resistance to his control. The vast majority of them have since left the country for good heading for greener pastures in the Western world causing in the process a “brain haemorrhage” from, which Nigeria may never recover. He also purged the ministries of their best brains.
* Babangida ensured that the entire system was corrupted under his regime and there was no accountability. He also increased State organised crimes and extra judicial murders – planes programmed to crash killed over 256 military officers of Southern extraction in Jaji and another at Ejigbo as well as many other unexplained and mysterious killings took place during his era, in fact, killing became societal ethics and norm.
* Babangida made Nigeria to join and formalized her membership of Organization of Islamic Countries OIC, without permission from the Supreme Military Council, the highest ruling body during military regimes and against the interest of the Nigerian people even though he was well aware that Nigeria is a secular State.
* Babangida is the antidemocratic man who criminally annulled the result of the June 12, 1993 presidential election - judged to be the freest and fairest ever held in the country's history. Nigerians went through a devastating economic, social and political turmoil because of the cancellation of the results of the June 12 Presidential election.
* The overwhelming majority of Nigerians still believe that it was Babangida who was solely responsible for the letter bomb that killed Dele Giwa, a prominent Nigeria journalist, on October 19, 1986.
* Babangida destroyed the Nigerian education system in, which in 2010, 98 per cent of those who sat for their ordinary level National Examination Council (NECO) examinations failed, just about 4,000 out of 234,682 candidates could get the minimum requirement of credit in five subjects, including English language and mathematics.
THE TRUTH ABOUT BABANGIDA
Babangida is the most hated figure in Nigeria today. For the living, the only way IBB can get into the presidential villa again would be through a rigged election. That would still not be the will of Nigerians. Of course, he can use our stolen money to corrupt much of the deprived electorates.
A quick survey of comments from Nigerians and the international community supports our claim and this is attached here as appendix.
Arisenigeria as a Nigerian citizen led organisation is calling on President Jonathan, the Attorney General of the federal Republic of Nigeria, the EFCC and the INEC to implement the following wishes of all Nigerians:
* That Babangida should be disqualified as a candidate for the year 2011 elections
* That Babangida is a hated figure, who should be prosecuted for treasonable acts against Nigeria, Nigerians and humanity.
* That Babangida remains untouchable and so rich that no progressive force can successfully compete against him. The Oputa Panel Report (A panel established by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo) would conclude that “On General Ibrahim Babangida, we are of the view that there is evidence to suggest that he and the two security chiefs, Brigadier General Halilu Akilu and Col. A. K. Togun are accountable for the death of Dele Giwa by letter bomb”. We recommend that this case be re-opened for further investigation in the public interest.
* That Babangida be prosecuted over the US$12.4 billion Oil Windfall, which Nigeria made during the first Gulf War. The Okigbo Report clearly indicted Babangida. It stated in part, "there were many large projects of doubtful viability and many more of clearly misplaced priority. In addition to these, the Dedication and Special Accounts had become a parallel budget for the Presidency. The decision as to what expenditure items to be financed out of these dedicated accounts was made by the President alone. For example, the accounts had been utilised to defray some assortment of expenses that could not in any way be described as priority such as: $2.92 million to make Documentary Film on Nigeria; $18.30 million to purchase TV/Video for the Presidency; $23.98 million for Staff Welfare in the Presidency; $99 million for travels of the First Lady abroad; and $59.72 million for security."
We are by this letter praying you to use your good offices to ensure that General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida is made to account for his crimes against Nigerians rather than given free rein to again pollute our National political space.
Nigeria shall rise again and the collective dreams and aspirations of Nigerians shall again be able to thrive!
God bless you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Yours sincerely
Signed:
Dr Philip Idaewor Mr Charles Eze
Chairman Chief Operating Officer
Arisenigeria Arisenigeria
Appendix:
A quick survey among Nigerians and international community supports our claim:
The TIME Magazine
When he came to power through a coup d’états in 1985, The TIME Magazine wrote a piece titled - Nigeria: Triumph of the Troublemaker (Sep. 09, 1985). When he was eventually kicked out of office, the same TIME reported that "the colonialists did not do as much damage to the Nigerian psyche as Babangida did." (Sep. 06, 1993)
The late revered activist and patriot, Chief Gani Fawehinmi
In May 1993, a month before Babangida fatefully annulled the June 12 elections, the late revered activist and patriot, Chief Gani Fawehinmi said of IBB: "he is a man whose words mean nothing to him". In all likelihood, when the dust of history has settled on the personalities and events that have utterly ruined Nigeria in the last three decades, this will be the verdict of posterity on the political legacy of IBB: “a man whose words mean nothing to him”.
Ten civil society groups
On Thursday, May 06, 2010, ten civil society groups fulfilled the request of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, (SAN) by sending to him, signed original copy of the late Dr Pius Okigbo Panel Report, which indicted former President, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (rtd) of allegations of corruption and mismanagement of $12.4 billion accrued oil revenue to the national till.
In a covering letter dated 5th May 2010, accompanying the 352-page original report sent to Mr Adoke, the groups stated that, “Now that we have gone the extra mile to fulfil the request by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, we expect that you would now move swiftly to prosecute former president Babangida on the basis of the Okigbo report, and ensure justice to the victims of the mismanagement and corruption documented in the report. Time is now of essence; any further delay would be justice delayed, which as you know, is justice denied”.
As you would note on pages 208 to 234 of the signed original report sent to you, there were clear and strong statements, which constituted an indictment that could not and should not be swept under the carpet for the sake of justice, and in the interest of the present and future generations.
Alhaji Abdulkarim Daiyabu, National President, Movement for Justice in Nigeria, Says -
“He introduced systematic looting in government. He encouraged what we today refer to as 419 or obtaining by false pretence. We still can remember Gloria Okon, how she came to die during Babangida’s time when he was using proxies for drug trafficking. We can also remember how Dele Giwa died - the unravelled mystery surrounding his death. Babangida’s tenure as military head of state recorded the proliferation of unprecedented crime and criminal activities.”
Larry Diamond, Oyeleye Oyediran, and Anthony Kirk-Greene in a book titled: “Transition without End” Observed:
“Economic hardship, political duplicity, and gross misgovernance wore thin and ultimately obliterated the enormous popularity, hope, and good will with which General Babangida began his tenure in office. Lacking the resources to co-opt all sources of opposition, the Babangida regime turned increasingly to coercion and intimidation through a growing apparatus of state repression (led by the State Security Service, SSS,).”
IBB is a joker - More than six major Igbo groups
More than six major Igbo groups rose from a meeting in Enugu recently and condemned the recent decision by former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) to run for presidency in 2011, an ambition, which they described as the biggest joke of the year.
In a resolution read at the end of the meeting by the convener and President of Igbo Youth Movement, Evangelist Elliot Uko, the groups declared that “Ndigbo were frightened by the mere thought of former military President, Gen Ibrahim Babangida coming back to hold Nigeria by the jugular. We think that is the biggest joke of the year. It is not only bad dreams but a frightful nightmare. When did satisfying the economic needs of one’s cronies who have been out of power for a while become the criteria of occupying Aso Rock? We heard that some of them owe banks and believe the only way to settle their debts, is when their master returns to power and the partying of the mid 1980’s takes off again”.
“Nigeria has not recovered from the jamborees of the mid 80’s and early 90’s. We advise Gen Babangida to have a rethink, go back home and enjoy his retirement. Ndigbo will resist him with all the energy that we can muster. His antecedents and pedigree are uninspiring, his style is completely out of fashion and counterproductive. We believe it is a joke. Gen IBB cannot be serious because we will oppose him”.
The Igbo groups, which include Igbo Students Association, Igbo Traders Union, Umuada Alaigbo,
World Igbo Congress and Otu Umuigbo Lagos, said they came about the resolution after painstaking research and consultations all over Igbo land.
“We sent out 6,000 questionnaires in March and we just collated them last week and they are verifiable for anybody who would want to see them. We sampled opinions of traders at Aba, Onitsha, Nnewi, Enugu, Abakaliki, Owerri and Umuahia. We also talked with civil servants, school teachers, students, traditional rulers, religious leaders and we can authoritatively say that we have aggregated the opinions of Ndigbo within the last eight weeks and the verdict is that, Ndigbo are totally disenchanted with the Federal Republic of Nigeria the way it is run presently. [IBB is a joker – Groups. PETRUS OBI, Enugu, Thursday, May 06, 2010 Photo: Sun News Publishing]
Letter to General Babangida, by OLUFEMI ADUWO, Thursday, May 06, 2010
Democracy will only secure liberty and development when the leaders are men of virtue, because without virtue, democracy will remain a chimerical idea. Martin Luther King Jr. said: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in time of comfort and conveniences, but where he stands in moment of conflict and controversy”. The PEOPLE know where you stand. The battle line is drawn, 2011 is the deadline.
General, leadership must generate and sustain trust; the trust factor is the social glue that keeps a nation cohesive and committed. Ghandi, Mandela, Abraham Lincoln, Awolowo, Nyerere etc manifested a number of qualities that established trust. The pages of history are full of heroes who created for themselves roles of glorious valour, which they played at decisive moments.
These leaders would continue to live in the hearts of men and women like lilies beside the river. Likewise, the pages of history are replete with leaders who had every opportunity to engrave their names on bill boards of gold, but ended up as mere historical footnotes. General, with all sense of humility, you will agree with me that you fall within this category. [By Olufemi Akinbule Aduwo National Coordinator, Rights Monitoring Group]
OLA ODUWOLE, President, National Association of Yoruba Descendants in North America:
“It would be thoughtless for Nigerians to elect Ibrahim Babangida, as their President”. “So he has no business in coming back to run in this country again. Because he has set us back many years ago. What Babangida did then is still affecting us till today because we have been drawn back economically, politically and even socially. What he did also created the kind of corrupt political system we have today.” [In an interview with Reporter, AKINWUNMI KING, Daily Independent (Lagos) 4 May 2010
Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, Bishop Mike Okonkwo
The Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, has urged Nigerians not to support the presidential ambition of the former military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).
He advised IBB to forget the ambition. According to him, IBB ruled the nation for about eight years and played some unsavoury roles, especially in the annulment of June 12, 1993 election won by the late Chief MKO Abiola.
In a media briefing in Lagos on Saturday, Okonkwo who is a former Vice-Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria and former President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, said the Christian community had started mobilising against IBB‘s presidential ambition. [Okonkwo flays IBB’s presidential ambition, By Success Nwogu, Published: Monday, 3 May 2010].
IBB not fit to contest 2011 presidential poll – Methodist Bishops
The Methodist Bishops described Babangida’s foray into politics, especially his current attempt at having another shot at the nation’s Presidency as an insult to Nigerians. The Prelate of the Methodist Church, Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Makinde, and the Conference Secretary, Rt. Rev. Raphael Opoko, in a communiqué issued at the end of council meeting, said that Babangida’s action was tantamount to insulting the sensibility of Nigerians. The Bishops noted that Nigerians had not forgotten that Babangida annulled the freest and fairest presidential election on June 12, 1993, adding that the fallout of this infamous act led to the death of many Nigerians while millions of others were thrown into misery.
Reading the communiqué at a news conference, Makinde alleged that during Babangida’s tenure, the country witnessed an unprecedented and monumental rise in the incidences of corruption. [IBB not fit to contest 2011 presidential poll – Methodist Bishops, By Segun Olatunji, Kaduna, Published: Tuesday, 4 May 2010]
IBB and the 12.4 billion Oil Windfall- Femi Falana, Human Right Lawyer and Activist
Falana quoting from the Okigbo’s report stated, "There were many large projects of doubtful viability and many more of clearly misplaced priority. In addition to these, the Dedication and Special Accounts had become a parallel budget for the Presidency. The decision as to what expenditure items to be financed out of these dedicated accounts was made by the President alone. For example, the accounts had been utilised to defray some assortment of expenses that could not in any way be described as priority such as: $2.92 million to make Documentary Film on Nigeria; $18.30 million to purchase TV/Video for the Presidency; $23.98 million for Staff Welfare in the Presidency; $99 million for travels of the First Lady abroad; and $59.72 million for security."
[SOURCE: Femi Falana, ThisDay, April 13, 2010].
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