Septuagenarians’ Verbal War

As former military dictator, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida clocked 70 on 17 August, 2011, hardly did Nigerians expect a bombshell from the Minna, Niger State-born self-styled military president who was nick named ‘maradona’ when he was head of state from 27 August, 1985 till 26 August, 1993. Many expected him to thank God for keeping him alive to mark such a significant milestone.

Rather, IBB chose the occasion of his birthday, the biblical three scores and ten to descend heavily on his erstwhile boss, General Olusegun Obasanjo.

Speaking with a group of journalists at his palatial hilltop mansion in Minna, IBB lambasted Obasanjo, saying that his eight-year rule as president of Nigeria was a failure because he (Obasanjo) was visionless.

IBB was more bitter that the crude oil, which was and remains the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy sold for $11 during his tenure while it sold for about $100 during Obasanjo’s eight-year rule. And the price of eight-year crude oil even now is far above what obtained during his military presidency.

Commenting on Obasanjo’s failed $16 billion power project, IBB opined that with such an amount at his disposal, he would have provided nuclear plant (not for war as he clarified) for Nigerians. But with that staggering amount, Obasanjo’s efforts to improve electric power supply to the country was a dismal failure.

Without holding brief for Obasanjo (he had already defended himself) any objective analyst of IBB’s eight-year dictatorial rule will agree that the general shot himself on the foot with one mistake too many which was the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election presumed to be the freest and fairest in Nigeria. And with the cancellation of that election, IBB had cancelled all that were to be his good deeds and the best of achievements of his administration.

One cannot but pity a man who aspired to return to power but all hopes seemed lost on joining the septuagenarian club. By 2015, when another presidential election may hold in Nigeria, IBB will be about 74 years old. Then who will consider such a candidate who, going by the average lifespan in Nigeria, is closer to his grave than anywhere else?

Conversely, however, after about three years and nine months in power in 1979, Obasanjo handed over power to democratically elected former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari. Some of his critics said he ‘grudgingly’ relinquished power then. But that he handed over power paved the way for his return 20 years later as a civilian head of government. The issue is clear. A leader that could discern the yearnings of his people had another opportunity another day. The ruler who clinged to power until he was forced to ‘step aside’ found it impossible to ‘step in’ again. Very simple.

During Obasanjo’s eight years presidency, IBB was a member of the Council of State and they were meeting regularly at the Aso Rock Villa.

One wonders why IBB found it difficult to ask his former boss the question one on one, “but why is it that any time you are in power the price of Nigeria’s crude oil goes up?”

Instead, IBB decided to wait until his 70th birthday rapport with journalists to express his regret like the biblical king Solomon after amassing the wealth to the best of his ability, summed up life as “vanity upon vanity, all is vanity.” Obviously, like King Solomon, the statements credited to IBB show his frustration.

Trust the ‘Ebora of Owu’ within 48 hours, Obasanjo fired back. ‘Baba Iyabo’ was reported to have returned from a vigil when reporters bombarded him with questions on his response to IBB’s bombshell. He replied that he was up to the task but he needed a rest and that news scouts who were eager for his reply should call about noon same day.

The lead story in the dailies the following day was Obasanjo’s response. The best of the headline was: “IBB, A Fool at 70 – OBJ” Like the proverbial wind that blew open the anus of the hen, Obasanjo said IBB in eight years built no dam to complement the two he built as military leader.

He said IBB contradicted himself when he claimed to have provided more dividends of democracy and at the same time regretted. Obasanjo said he was of the view that IBB should be pitied and shown sympathy rather than anger or condemnation because of the old saying; “A fool at 40 is a fool for ever”. He added: “Well, a regret at 70 is a regret for the grave.”

Instead of allowing the matter to die down, IBB in another 24 hours, through his spokesperson, issued another reply describing Obasanjo as the greatest (or the greater) fool. He defended his earlier verbal attack on Obasanjo that he did not absue his former boss.

However, many right-thinking Nigerians condemned in strong terms the verbal war of the septuagenarians, describing it as unnecessary, uncalled for, saying that it served no useful purpose.

One of those who rightly condemned the two generals was Admiral Akin Aduwo. The former military governor who served the shortest term, Admiral Aduwo, was governor of the defunct Western State in 1975. He was redeployed to the barrack in two weeks. But he had a distinguished career in the Nigerian Navy and rose to the pinnacle of his career as Chief of Naval Staff before retirement. Aduwo said the two generals deserved to be court-marshalled and their ranks reduced.

Arewa youths opined that both IBB and Obasanjo are a disgrace to Nigeria. They called for their suspension from the Council of State. Unconfirmed report had it that President Goodluck Jonathan phoned the warring generals asking them to sheathe their swords.

For now the two septuagenarians have maintained the peace.

—Moyo Fabiyi