The IBB presidency plot • South-West's hidden agenda
By AMOS DUNIA, Abuja

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Before Wednesday, September 15, many political watchers and self acclaimed pundits had predicted that former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida who is desirous of becoming the president in 2011would eventually back out of the race as he did in 2003 and 2007.


However, contrary to the expectation of his withdrawal from the race, Babangida on Wednesday at the Eagle Square in Abuja formally declared his intention to contest the 2011 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before a large crowd of supporters whose magnitude would have baffled the campaign organization of President Goodluck Jonathan.


The development came against the backdrop of allegation that the presidency made desperate moves to scuttle the declaration following the marching order that was given to the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party on Monday night to move forward its earlier scheduled National Executive Committee meeting for Thursday to Wednesday to coincide with the planned declaration by Babangida.


The idea, it was gathered, was to ensure that PDP NEC members who were expected at the IBB rally would not be able to do so as their attention would be focused at the NEC than the declaration owing to the crucial decisions that were to be adopted at the second highest decision making organ of the party. Sensing the harm the deft move would have caused his carefully planned declaration, the former president was believed to have protested the rescheduling of the PDP NEC which he noted was deliberately skewed to scuttle his programme.

Babangida was quoted as having told the PDP leadership that in spite of carefully chosen date and time for his event and having put the party on notice, it would be wrong for the leadership that had promised a level playing field to want to allow itself to be used by equally interested party in the race. Based on the protest, the National Working Committee had to readjust the time by about two hours to enable some interested members of the party to attend the Eagle Square presidential declaration.


The event eventually kicked off and attended by some prominent politicians from the South West, South East and states from the northern part of the country where he is expected to have some stronghold.

Aside from the open campaigns, General Babangida is believed to be more engaged with quiet and underground campaigns that seem to be achieving better results for him particularly in the South West and South East geo-political zones.


For instance, one of the IBB's campaign coordinators in the South West states and who was the coordinator of Afenifere in Europe Otumba Kole Omololu, said that the outcome of the forthcoming PDP Presidential primaries between Babangida and President Jonathan would shock most Nigerians. Omololu further said that contrary to the propaganda against IBB and the use of state apparatus to coerce people, Babangida has greater popularity in the South West.


He said that the greatest undoing for the President Jonathan's camp is the belief that former President Olusegun Obasanjo who he said cannot win an election in the South West except through coercion has a hold on delegates from the South West following the attempt to manipulate and coerce South West PDP governors to adopt President Jonathan.


This was further confirmed by an aide to one of the PDP governors in the South West who told Saturday Sun that having being forced to adopt President Jonathan in the open, majority of the PDP South West governors merely adopted what he described in Yoruba as; "Demo ni mo wa" which literally translate to; "You can see my hand but certainly not my mind."


According to him, the Yoruba people are conscious of the fact that former President Obasanjo has never and cannot do anything for the interest of the Yoruba and not in a position to represent and carry along the South West people genuinely as he would only hide under the pretence of national interest while deep down, it is known that all his actions are usually based on self.


The aide to the governor further said that so many people particularly the governors believe that Chief Obasanjo's present support for President Jonathan is to enable him actualize his failed third term in office which was later nailed by late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua who ensured that Obasanjo did not remain as the Executive Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, a development Obasanjo did not find funny.

The South governors were believed to have expressed reservation over the fact that Chief Obasanjo merely coerced them into adopting President Jonathan without negotiating anything in return for the South West as required in political horse trading. They equally noted that but for Chief Obasanjo who is the main person urging Jonathan to run, the president would not have wanted to do so given the fact that the dicey issue of zoning was canvassed for by the Southern states and was accepted by the North.


It was gathered that a Yoruba group analyzed the two main contestants and arrived at the fact that the administration of President Babangida benefitted the South West than any other government in the country since independence except for the annulment of June 12, 1993 election in which the winner late Chief Moshood Abiola was denied victory.


The meeting agreed that during Babangida's era, the West had the most powerful ministers and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The list included, Chief Olu Falae, Prof. Olikoye Ramsome-Kuti, the Health Minister, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, the Minister for External Affairs as well as Prince Bola Ajibola who served as Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice.

The Yoruba group equally recalled that the South-South people had never agreed to support the South West politically citing the instance of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo that needed the assistance of the Niger Delta people but was not only abandoned but betrayed.


Furthermore, the group x-rayed the issue of credible, free and fair elections during which it agreed that if it is to be achieved in the country, President Jonathan as an interested participant in the election cannot guarantee such a desire by Nigerians which they noted is key to the survival of democracy in the country.


THE EFCC ANGLE

The use of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by President Jonathan in hunting perceived opponents who spoke in favour of the retention of the PDP zoning arrangement is seen as an albatross against the ambition of the president who is believed to be adopting the Chief Obasanjo style against perceived political opponents.


The governors, it was reported, feel unsafe with President Jonathan who is waving the anti-graft agency reports even before his nomination and or election thus may become worse than Obasanjo who after his nomination for his second term went for the jugular of governors that did not support him.

Saturday Sun found out that General Babangida is equally conscious of sentiments and other political moves that may work in his favour or otherwise and may have directed his group to further work out the details of actualizing the position of the South West.


Added to the possible advantage he may derive in the South West, the former military leader is believed to have gone into alliance with major political leaders and opinion moulders of the South East towards working to ensure the emergence of an Igbo president by 2015 by ensuring that the zoning arrangement of the PDP is respected and adhered to in accordance with the party's constitution.


As a way of achieving the alignment between the North and the South East in the present arrangement, General Babangida may have resolved to pick a running mate from the South East geo-political zone and it is already being speculated that former Senate President Senator Ken Nnamani may have been zeroed in on for the position if Babangida picks the PDP presidential ticket.


To further assure the South East and other Nigerians of his commitment to the zoning arrangement, Babangida reportedly vowed that he would run for the office of president for only one term of four years after almost two decades of deep and serious reflection, increased exposure and a review of the past and present, he is more convinced and determined to take fully the challenges ahead of the country.


The former president stressed that his involvement in politics is about taking difficult decisions to solve problems as well as resolve critical challenges adding that such matters certainly require courage, resolve, fortitude, foresight and resourcefulness.


In his words: "They demand the appropriate capacity to take the needs, the hopes, the fears, and the peculiarities of individuals and groups to re-mould them for the larger national interests and the greater good of all."


If the crowd that attended his declaration is a yardstick, the Minna General can be counted among the strong contenders for the ticket. \

http://odili.net/news/source/2010/sep/19/501.html

This is interesting, no?

Hack job.

Why is it hack job? If you vote GEJ, you are only voting ObJ by proxy. We Yorubas claim to hate Obj now is the time to show it.

i feel like killing FAKE yoruba people like this.

if anything is to be said it is that jonathan is the best among the worst.
meaning who other would yoruba people vote for. ibb is terrible

its not as if hes running with a popular yoruba candidate as vice , did he offer to hand over presidecy to yoruba people? NO, SO HE GETS NO SUPPORT AT ALL

the ONE govenor - he might like ibb but he knows theres nothing to gain in supporting him LOUDLY in the SW because IBBs running mate is not yoruba.
so there is no more ibb relevance in the SW- end of.

I have alot of uncles who are friends with IBB but to vote and support him in the SW? THEY WOULDNT EVEN THINK OF IT ESP IF THEY ARE NOT HIS VICE OR IF HIS VICE ISNT YORUBA.

trashy article- doesnt even make sense

thats like throwing votes away

would a northnerner vote for a sw-se ticket? NO
If IBBs vice was from the SW would an easterner or niger deltan vote for him? NO

[size=16pt]So on the fact alone that IBBs vice isnt yoruba CANCELS ALL CHANCES OF HIM WINNING IN THE SW.[/size]

This article is deep. I won't wave it away at all! Everything in it makes sense.

sbeezy8:

i feel like killing FAKE yoruba people like this.

if anything is to be said it is that jonathan is the best among the worst.
meaning who other would yoruba people vote for. ibb is terrible

its not as if hes running with a popular yoruba candidate as vice , did he offer to hand over presidecy to yoruba people? NO, SO HE GETS NO SUPPORT AT ALL

the ONE govenor - he might like ibb but he knows theres nothing to gain in supporting him LOUDLY in the SW because IBBs running mate is not yoruba.
so there is no more ibb relevance in the SW- end of.

I have alot of uncles who are friends with IBB but to vote and support him in the SW? THEY WOULDNT EVEN THINK OF IT ESP IF THEY ARE NOT HIS VICE OR IF HIS VICE ISNT YORUBA.

trashy article- doesnt even make sense

Akin-Egba is Ibo. His other handle, Lamidi-Obi has now been banned, I think

All he does, he trolls the forum trying his best to look like an slowpoke & portray Yoruba people in bad light. That's his life

ziddy:

Akin-Egba is Ibo. His other handle, Lamidi-Obi has now been banned, I think

All he does, he trolls the forum trying his best to look like an slowpoke & portray Yoruba people in bad light. That's his life

the article only makes sense to a goat like Onlytruth

Onlytruth:

This article is deep. I won't wave it away at all! Everything in it makes sense.

you are very foolish you think yoruba people will vote for IBB and an igbo vice? You must be drunk thats is like votin for Balewa and Zik WE WILL NEVER DO IT.
If the North wants yorubas support they better try something better like  pushing Saraki  or Smart Adeyemi because theyre the only ones that can make yorubas vote against Jonathan. Even at that saraki d baastard will have to postrate before Alaafin of oyo and Ooni of ife before he gets support and prolaim his Yorubaness over fulani.

Yorubas are tribalistic but we are not stupiddd- a yorubman voting for IBB and Odili is a very silly one even this fool that is talking now will probably secretly cast a vote for Goodluck Jonathan

remember we tend to be tribalisric not stupiddd- we will not even look at a ticket with no yoruba as president or vice. WE ARE NOT MUMUS

Where is the Secret love.
Any Yoruba man that put his/her Tent with IBB is only trying to keep soul and Body.
Remember, those hungrymen would want to do all to end their 17 Years of hunger and penury.

True Yorubas want people who are straight-forward, not chameleon like IBB.

June 13th 1986, IBB said, " this administration will not stay longer than absolutely necessary"
But he absolutely stayed than necessary. Never wanted to go untill the heat was tooo much to bear.

June 13th 1986, He gave his political committee the mandate to work out program that would make him hand over to a democratic president in 1990.

But, the liar wasn't ready to leave in 1993.

Came to power when 1 USD = 0.892 Naira. Disgracefully left when his corruption corrupted Naira to become 1 USD = 21 Naira.

Killings of Journalist, Generals whose presence threatens his life presidency agenda, killings of university students at every opportunity, Infesting Nigerian with his Narcotic Business, June 12, Turning Nigerian state into anarchy which was continued by his protege Abacha.

Which of the aboved reasons will make Yoruba support IBB openly or secretly?

some Yoruba's will support IBB because his mother is from Ogbomoso in Osun State like wise some in Niger delta will support him his late wife is from Delta state and he is from Niger state.Ogun state especially Abeokuta are the strong haters of IBB for sane reasons, but what about EKITI, OSUN, OYO,ONDO, THE ANSWER TO THAT IS NOT A DEFINITE NO TO IBB.

^^

The Southwest can never forgive IBB for the June 12 wahala so he has no chance at all. Forget what those guys telling him to get him to spend some of his loot.

i care:

some Yoruba's will support IBB because his mother is from Ogbomoso in Osun State like wise some in Niger delta will support him his late wife is from Delta state and he is from Niger state.Ogun state especially Abeokuta are the strong haters of IBB for sane reasons, but what about EKITI, OSUN, OYO,ONDO, THE ANSWER TO THAT IS NOT A DEFINITE NO TO IBB.

You sound like Becomerich. Have you met his mother in person or you just make wild assumptions.

ziddy:

Akin-Egba is Ibo. His other handle, Lamidi-Obi has now been banned, I think

All he does, he trolls the forum trying his best to look like an slowpoke & portray Yoruba people in bad light. That's his life

He is also Mekussss, Nchara, etc

[

tr]It was gathered that a Yoruba group analyzed the two main contestants and arrived at the fact that the administration of President Babangida benefitted the South West than any other government in the country since independence except for the annulment of June 12, 1993 election in which the winner late Chief Moshood Abiola was denied victory.

@AkinEgba, M.U.M.U

d JUNE 12 alone, one of many atrocities of IBB we know uncountable lifes of innocent nigerian it took, i dont blame u, if one of your relatives happened to be a victim or widow of Dele Giwa et al, u wouldnt pe posting this trash

This article is as shallow as they come. How many people in the SW still live in the 60s as we are made to believe with the Awo angle? And how many of the current governors actually won a free and fair election as to be custodians of the wishes of the people?

Lastly, if all the insinuations are to be followed, what happens to the Abiola angle? I wish some journalists would get a life and address important issues like the economy, power, security, social security, education and leave the 60s and 70s where they are and deserve to be, IN THE HISTORY BOOKS.

Cheap Propaganda !!!

@ Akin-Egba and Only thruth

I dont normally indulge in tribal mudslinging on NL but there was a tribal thread some1 claimed Akin-Egba=Only thruth.

Akin-Egba and/or Only thruth and/or IBB; U guys have taken your desperation to another level with silly N250-sponsored articles like d rurbish droped on diz board.

Even yesterday small pikin knows dat IBB will not get 1000 votes from d whole SW if he didnt spend like N10K on each voter. Since 1993 the SW have never hidden their hatred for IBB both on the net, on the newspapers, even on the field in Edo state. He has been publicly disgraced by SW guys(both yoruba and igbo) in Edo state, twice has he attempted to launch his campaign on the lands and twice has he failed, most NL yoruba would have strangulated IBB thru d net it were possible. The only supports he has in d SW are totally politically irrelivant people like Gbolarimi, Alex Akinyela (who confessed at ES dat IBB was loosing it).

Where is d secret supports coming from? The only zone where IBB should dream of secreet support in d SE where the elders are trying to use the obvious advantage of the moment to decide their political future.

And at the end of the day the Ndigbo will have no choice than to vote against the Evil1. He has not finished making promises to the Ndigbo and he has already been bursted his actions and people around him.

Katsumoto:

He is also Mekussss, Nchara, etc

WTF? Akin-Egba is Lamidi-Obi, is Onlytruth, is Nchara is Mekussss? Only one person? I guess he is also Amos Dunia, the author of the article. FYI I be Yoruba proper from Egba, to be precise. We are voting for IBB because we have put June 12 behind us. Jonathan has nothing to offer us but IBB has always been Yoruba paddy man chop I chop. GEJ will just corner everything for himself and Obj.

Akin-Egba:

WTF? Akin-Egba is Lamidi-Obi, is Onlytruth, is Nchara is Mekussss? Only one person? I guess he is also Amos Dunia, the author of the article. FYI I be Yoruba proper from Egba, to be precise. We are voting for IBB because we have put June 12 behind us. Jonathan has nothing to offer us but IBB has always been Yoruba paddy man chop I chop. GEJ will just corner everything for himself and Obj.

Iwo se wa ya omo ale yoruba bayi. . .omo jatijati

~Bluetooth:

Iwo se wa ya omo ale yoruba bayi. . .omo jatijati

ko si wahala. Free world ni!

~Bluetooth:

Iwo se wa ya omo ale yoruba bayi. . .omo jatijati

Kin se omo yoruba rara. Mo ti ri to n so igbo dada lori thread kan. O ma n gbagba ara ni igba kan. Oloshi ni, nkan to sele si awon eni ti IBB pa lo ma sele is awon obi e ati awon aburo e.

akin egba is a maniac, a rustic, slowpoke, evil cohort of IBB.

TewMuch:

Kin se omo yoruba rara. Mo ti ri to n so igbo dada lori thread kan. O ma n gbagba ara ni igba kan. Oloshi ni, nkan to sele si awon eni ti IBB pa lo ma sele is awon obi e ati awon aburo e.

ROTFL. . .eepe yi ti poju sugbon mo kan fe mo boya omo yoruba ni mase anfani,oloriburuku yen ni.

As long as we vote for IBB at the end of the day, the rest na oro agbari

akin egba,you are a big fool

seanet02:

akin egba,you are a big fool

Mo ti gbo now! As long as we vote for IBB on the-D-day, o pari. Wetin again?

Akin-Egba:

Mo ti gbo now! As long as we vote for IBB on the-D-day, o pari. Wetin again?

POLTICAL JOBBER

seanet02:

POLTICAL JOBBER

What is your gain for supporting Jonathan? He is giving money to only his Niger Delta brothers and some governors. I am already counting cool dough from IBB who is spreadig his money to the grass root. You better join the winning team.

TewMuch:

Kin se omo yoruba rara. Mo ti ri to n so igbo dada lori thread kan. O ma n gbagba ara ni igba kan. Oloshi ni, nkan to sele si awon eni ti IBB pa lo ma sele is awon obi e ati awon aburo e.

True omo naija ni mi. Mo le so Yoruba (my native ligua), Ibo, Hausa ati Ogoni.

No self-respecting Nigerian should vote IBB in.
Its as simple as that
I hope

akin egba dont sell your CHILDREN'S future because of EMBEZZLED DOLLARS