By Okechukwu Nnodim


June 1, 2010 01:06AM



Ibrahim Babangida, Nigeria’s former military dictator, yesterday said that he was willing to have the late Moshood Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 general elections “immortalised.”

Mr. Babangida, while responding to questions from aviation correspondents at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), disclosed that Abiola fought for Nigeria’s democracy and his efforts should be recognised.

“I think it is good at long last that somebody is trying to acknowledge the efforts of Chief M. K. O. Abiola. We cannot deny him the fact that he fought for democracy, and I am glad that the government is accepting it.

“Also, I want to see a situation whereby he will be immortalised as a person who fought for democracy in this country,” Mr. Babangida said.

Babangida’s doublespeak

Ironically, Mr. Babangida annulled the June 12, 1993 election, which was adjudged as the country’s freest and fairest election. The annulment was the catalyst for a series of events which forced Mr. Babangida to “step aside” and hand over to an Interim National Government, headed by Ernest Shonekan, who hails from Abeokuta, like Abiola. Three months after, Mr. Shonekan was deposed by the late Sani Abacha, a General and Chief of Defence Staff, who later arrested Abiola until he died in detention.

The former Nigerian leader, who has expressed interest in running for the 2011 general elections, disclosed that he would prefer that an institution be named after the late Abiola, adding that it would be a lasting bequest to the 1993 general elections winner.

“Well, there are so many things, but I will leave that to government. I want to see maybe an institution named after him that talks only about democracy. That is the most enduring legacy we can give MKO,” he said.

Dropping presidential ambition

Asked about his response to calls by Nigerians and especially that of former Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Maitama Sule, who said that Mr. Babangida and former head of state, Muhammadu Buhari, should not contest the 2011 presidential elections, the former military helmsman said that everybody is entitled to his or her opinion.

“This is democracy,” he said. “You may have 150 million opinions. I have my own opinion and he has his own, you cannot deny him.”

He disclosed that when it is time, Nigerians will know. “The time has not come; when we get to the bridge we will cross it,” he said.

Regarding the number of political parties, the former president said that the lesser the number of political parties in the country, the better for the nation’s democracy.

“I am not a believer in 51 parties. The smaller, the better for democracy, and then everybody will have a place to be accommodated. But you see, there are so many little ones and everybody moves towards the winning party,” he said.

“I think it is better for this country to run a manageable party, than maybe three, four, or five.”

This IBB needs to check himself before he runs mad.

[s][/s]

mbulela:

By Okechukwu Nnodim


June 1, 2010 01:06AM



Ibrahim Babangida, Nigeria’s former military dictator, yesterday said that he was willing to have the late Moshood Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 general elections “immortalised.”

Mr. Babangida, while responding to questions from aviation correspondents at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), disclosed that Abiola fought for Nigeria’s democracy and his efforts should be recognised.

“I think it is good at long last that somebody is trying to acknowledge the efforts of Chief M. K. O. Abiola. We cannot deny him the fact that he fought for democracy, and I am glad that the government is accepting it.

“Also, I want to see a situation whereby he will be immortalised as a person who fought for democracy in this country,” Mr. Babangida said.

Babangida’s doublespeak

Ironically, Mr. Babangida annulled the June 12, 1993 election, which was adjudged as the country’s freest and fairest election. The annulment was the catalyst for a series of events which forced Mr. Babangida to “step aside” and hand over to an Interim National Government, headed by Ernest Shonekan, who hails from Abeokuta, like Abiola. Three months after, Mr. Shonekan was deposed by the late Sani Abacha, a General and Chief of Defence Staff, who later arrested Abiola until he died in detention.

The former Nigerian leader, who has expressed interest in running for the 2011 general elections, disclosed that he would prefer that an institution be named after the late Abiola, adding that it would be a lasting bequest to the 1993 general elections winner.

“Well, there are so many things, but I will leave that to government. I want to see maybe an institution named after him that talks only about democracy. That is the most enduring legacy we can give MKO,” he said.

Dropping presidential ambition

Asked about his response to calls by Nigerians and especially that of former Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Maitama Sule, who said that Mr. Babangida and former head of state, Muhammadu Buhari, should not contest the 2011 presidential elections, the former military helmsman said that everybody is entitled to his or her opinion.

“This is democracy,” he said. “You may have 150 million opinions. I have my own opinion and he has his own, you cannot deny him.”

He disclosed that when it is time, Nigerians will know. “The time has not come; when we get to the bridge we will cross it,” he said.

Regarding the number of political parties, the former president said that the lesser the number of political parties in the country, the better for the nation’s democracy.

“I am not a believer in 51 parties. The smaller, the better for democracy, and then everybody will have a place to be accommodated. But you see, there are so many little ones and everybody moves towards the winning party,” he said.

“I think it is better for this country to run a manageable party, than maybe three, four, or five.”

[s][/s]this man needs medical check-up.immortalization or whatever,he should go to hell.perhaps,Abiola is already resting in peace.

Osama10:

This IBB needs to check himself before he runs mad.

. . .Seems the checkup is already too late. He is mad.

Beaf, how far now?
Where you dey since?
Aso rock or militant creek?
na our town o!
south-south!!

Lol

wow. so Babangida is officially medically retarded.

mbulela:

Beaf, how far now?
Where you dey since?
Aso rock or militant creek?
na our town o!
south-south!!

Creek ke! Dudes must dust up! Am still lobbying for my Aso spot come 2011.

He should shut up, MOSHOOD ABIOLA POLYTECHNIC is there already.

IBB has been making lots of sense recently. . .

the devil wants to canonize jesus

I smell somebody is looking for cheap mercy and favor but thank God we aint fools. He must be mad to think that we are fools.

kosovo:

IBB has been making lots of sense recently. . .

what sense are you talking about ?.he may have been reading art of seduction lately but it's never gonna work

~Bluetooth:

what sense are you talking about ?.he may have been reading art of seduction lately but it's never gonna work

I just dont understand that KOSOVO of a man. May be he is IBB in disguise.

kosovo:

IBB has been making lots of sense recently. . .

Dude , are you for real?

dis ibb dude has got serious issues o,d guy is just an idjit

Hmmmmnnnnn. So na so people dey play politics? A little to the left, a little to the right? Na wa o!!

we are smarter than u think, sell dat crap sob stories to , whoever not nigerians.

the guy must think we are fools in Nigeria

even if he has the power to resurrect MKO today, we still wont vote for him

let him continue chatting opaks

That's a cheap shot at gaining popularity! I bet he thinks we arew suffering from amnesia

According to IBB,

“I think it is good at long last that somebody is trying to acknowledge the efforts of Chief M. K. O. Abiola. We cannot deny him the fact that he fought for democracy, and I am glad that the government is accepting it".

Who was MKO fighting against? The enemies of democracy of course.
And who is the number one enemy? IBB of course.
So if we agree to immortalize the one who died while fighting for democracy, don't you think it makes sense to mutilate the one person who killed democracy?

joker! ^^^^ faultless logic

ibb is taking nigerians for a ride. u know we have short memories. nigerians never had so bad under is regime- economy began its downtown ride. If i ibb can not deliver for gud 8yrs, what has he got to offer now? i dont buy it. make he find him maga go front.

Now that IBB has realised how much the nigerian populace hates him he wanted to be relevant and play on our intelligence by calling for MKO ABIOLAs immortalisation ( HE ANNULLED THE MOST FREE & FAIREST JUNE 12 ELECTION IN THE HISTORY OF NIGERIA AND INDIRECTLY MURDERED ABIOLA IN PRISON). His likes will never be president of this country again because nigerian youths are ready to take their destinies in their hands. Most of the vices in nigeria like drugs, corruption, political murders are traceable to the babangidas presidency days. I THINK IBB IS SUFFERING FROM AMNESIA BECAUSE HOW DO WE DISSECT HIS AMBITION TO BE PRESIDENT OF THIS COUNTRY AGAIN, BUT LIKE ADAGE SAYS 'HE WHO THE GODS WANT TO KILL IT FIRST MADE MAD'. IBB we know you are on the edge but first tell us what happened to the $12b oil windfall, Dele Giwas death and other evils you committed while in office

Hypocrite, seeking cheap popularity.

[/quote][quote author=Timehin link=topic=454997.msg6129115#msg6129115 date=1275390233]
Now that IBB has realised how much the nigerian populace hates him he wanted to be relevant and play on our intelligence by calling for MKO ABIOLAs immortalisation ( HE ANNULLED THE MOST FREE & FAIREST JUNE 12 ELECTION IN THE HISTORY OF NIGERIA AND INDIRECTLY MURDERED ABIOLA IN PRISON). His likes will never be president of this country again because nigerian youths are ready to take their destinies in their hands. Most of the vices in nigeria like drugs, corruption, political murders are traceable to the babangidas presidency days. I THINK IBB IS SUFFERING FROM AMNESIA BECAUSE HOW DO WE DISSECT HIS AMBITION TO BE PRESIDENT OF THIS COUNTRY AGAIN, BUT LIKE ADAGE SAYS 'HE WHO THE GODS WANT TO KILL IT FIRST MADE MAD'. IBB we know you are on the edge but first tell us what happened to the $12b oil windfall, Dele Giwas death and other evils you committed while in office

Abi oooooooo. thank u my broda

This is the Utterances of a:

1. Great Politician
2. Good Nigerian that knows what Nigerians wanna hear.
3. Man on a Mission.

IBB's game plan this time around is very cheap. He is called 'evil genius' but it seems the 'genius' in the  'evil genius' has dissapeared and the EVIL alone is easily detected by Nigerians. The strategy is to use same Abiola to pacify the populace but the more he talk the more people got irritated by his logic.

Let him go and enjoy the looted fund and  forget the presidency again for live.

I think IBB need a serious psychatric help.

Thats why he is called the maradona of Nigerian politics, but his tricks are no longer potent