THE RECORD IBB MISSED BY THE WHISKERS

IBB AND OBJ

                                         

The IBB years in Nigeria are better forgotten for what they were. Power is indeed transient and the sooner men of Power realize this, the better for humanity. Buhari and his man Friday, Idiagbon, indeed held Nigeria by the jugular, just like today, Nigeria is bleeding and PMB is not connecting with the people.

When Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, appeared on the scene, there was a huge sigh of relief. Little did Nigerians know, they had just signed on to a journey of no reprieve.

The IBB years really had a big toll on Nigeria. Very many things went awry and fingers were duly pointed in the direction of IBB. The more fingers were pointed, the more he pretended to be responding. Respond, he did in many ways.

He instituted many bodies for several problems. The bottom line, seemed to be aimed at finding a price for every man. In the end, he earned the nickname, Maradona. It was that bad.

He targeted all men of substance in Nigeria, with the singular aim of demystifying them. All geared towards making himself, a Messiah.

It is true that the road to hell is paved with good intentions and IBB devised many devious schemes on the way to the hell of perpetuating himself in office as a Life President.

In the process, he missed a golden opportunity of redeeming the black race from the odium of net receivers and not givers in the race of civilization. 

Never has it been heard that a Government, modern or ancient set up political parties for citizens to join. IBB did, and join Nigerians did. Had he not nursed the evil intention of not leaving office, that indeed would have been a world record and the adulation he so much cherishes at home, he would have been getting both at home and abroad.

But no, whom the gods want to punish, they first make mad and the frustration at his inability to come back and possibly make amends, on reaching the landmark age of 70, made him lash out at OBJ, calling him a fool. It took not a few people by surprise as IBB was not given to such indiscretions. 

Who is the fool?

IBB in an unprecedented move, set up two parties National Republican Convention and Social Democratic Party, in a country that was used to forming parties along the three major ethnic groups as was Action Group for Yorubas, National Council of Nigerian Citizens for mostly Igbos and Northern Peoples Congress for Hausas in the first Republic.

The second Republic did not fare better with National Party of Nigeria dominated by Hausas, Unity Party of Nigeria controlled by Yorubas and Nigeria People's Party controlled by Igbos.

With IBB's two parties, a huge sigh of relief was heaved but it was not to be, the mid wife, wanted a still birth but the people were oblivious to his wish. Like in some PMB elections, today, the Presidential Election was declared inconclusive and the rest like they say is history. In the process, IBB lost eight precious years to make a mark, but he missed it by the whiskers.