LETTER TO IBB

PHOTO: NIGERIA'S FORMER MILITARY DICTATOR, GENERAL IBRAHIM BABANGIDA.

The tale of tyranny and oppression is too subtle to describe you as a former Military President of Nigeria. You made the life of Nigerians hell and you turned the citizens of Nigeria into slaves in their own country. As if your draconian behaviour has not subsided, you seek another opportunity to be listed yet again.  Your motive is known the world over; your antic is not a secret. According to old adage, a child who knows no shame is never sent to the market place.

My dear IBB, please face the reality of life as an old man with old ideas. You had nothing to support your subjects when you were leader in Nigeria. During your regime and after your leadership ended, the Nigerian people were left in turmoil as many good people of leadership potential were duly silenced to their early grave. Nigerians can still remember MKO Abiola and your scheming of the 6 June 2003 election in Nigeria. Just as you had nothing of worth for your leadership in Nigeria, you have nothing for the current generation of Nigerians now. In fact, you have contributed to make Nigeria a country of slaves and slave masters. You are one of the selected few slave masters in Nigeria today.

It is time for you to seek and desire to rest your life and be remembered as sadness for Nigeria. You had the opportunity to remove Nigeria from the strangle hold of shame and underdevelopment but you chose the route of shame as you enriched yourself, and those of your loyal and military elites. Now you are parading yourself as a billionaire and a man of integrity seeking and canvassing the support of the Nigerian public. At whose expense did you become a billionaire? Do you know the real meaning of integrity?

Many responsible Nigerians I approach have nothing good to say about your character and leadership. Everyone tend to have a lot to say about your old style of scheming using your military tactics to antagonize and demonize your own subjects. What makes you think your scheming and old style of oppression will still gain support from Nigerians? Old leaders like you are anti-progress because you never seek the good and progress of the current generation and good people of Nigeria.

I know you still remember General Mamman Vatsa and his arrest in 1985 after the alleged coup plot. You promulgated a law for the sole purpose of satisfying your hunger to kill General Vatsa and other people allegedly involved in the failed coup plot. You signed the Treason and other Related Offences (Special Military Tribunal) Decree No. 1 of 1986 into Nigerian law on 6 January 1986 after the arrest of the alleged coup plotters. You created a law to satisfy your own illegality because the Nigerian Penal Code of death sentence did not recognize your military regime.

It is unfortunate that people like you still have some followers in Nigeria because you created a rich camp for yourself and your immediate supporters. You do not need to consult widely about contesting the next election come 2011. Your rich camp will readily approve your election but the current day crops of Nigerians are wiser and more civilized. Your antics and scheming will not deceive Nigerians to the ballot box now.

You ought to know that your last appearance in the presidential regime in Nigeria was totally military. You seem to think that you can use the same logic of military might to gain entry through the back door come 2011. Well, your game is over. Nigeria has advanced beyond military dictatorship. Contrary to your plan to stifle development in Nigeria, technology has enabled Nigeria to communicate with the outside world. The history of your military leadership is known all over the world for what it really is - tyranny.

You should now remain in retirement with your old and outdated ideas. Continue to eat and grow fat in your wealth associated with your old days as military leader and dictator in Nigeria. Nigeria does not need your advice now. The current generation of leadership potential in Nigeria does not need your style of leadership. Also, keep your counsel as an elder to yourself because you cannot be remembered as a true Nigerian statesman.

Indeed, Nigeria is progressively becoming a country of free people; great people, great nation.

God bless Nigeria.

Bernard Imarhiagbe, UK Coordinator, Champions For Nigeria.