A POSTHUMOUS NOTE BEFORE DEATH-TO A GENERAL

The abbreviation ‘IBB’ evokes a variety of reactions from Nigerians across every walk of life. To his collaborators his image is rather tame; that of a smart military officer who had the luck of riding a rather mercurial career trajectory that culminated in mild embarrassment. To others the imagery is more sinister; a criminal opportunist that enshrined corruption and took Nigeria to never before experienced heights in the realm of incompetency. Perhaps, the only group of individuals without any concrete opinions concerning the man is that of the millennials. Those born during-and after- the later years of his reign, who received only cursory education-if any-about his years of rule. Interestingly, these are probably the most affected by the legacy of his policies and ideological postures. The unacknowledged children of our gap-toothed Maradona.

Regardless of the apparent diversity of opinion, the one common avenue of critique directed toward his handling of the affairs of state, is that of the cancellation of the June 12 Presidential elections in 1993. On this issue, the views of detractors, neutrals and occasionally the otherwise enthusiastic supporter have found common ground, a very rare marriage union of values for this particular bunch.

However, June 12, 1993 was not to be the end of IBB. His relevance has persisted-albeit waning in recent times- for at least two decades beyond that day. Today visits to his Hilltop mansion in Minna have become a rite of passage for aspiring and experienced politicians. That coupled with the front-page treatment given to his proclamations, serve to remind the everyday citizen of his omnipresence in public life, though several upstanding citizens devoted a significant portion of their intellectual and material resources to sue for the establishment of his vilification on the national collective conscience. The recurrent failure of such efforts has seemed to spell futility for any future attempts. In short, the retired general kept on winning year on year.

But after June 6, 2018 one might have to alter such a stance. Twenty-five years after the robbery of his mandate by the Nigerian junta led by IBB, Abiola’s sacrifice has finally been given symbolic relevance. Not because there weren’t those who acknowledged the immensity of his tribulations at the hands of unmerciful generals, but because his ordeal has officially been given recognition, executive fiat so to speak. One reasons that if the Office of the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria- a successor office to that held by IBB on that very day in 1993- made such a concession then surely the folly of the annulment is no longer in question. The ambiguity surrounding that one prominent event in the democratic history of Nigeria can perhaps, be finally put to rest. The Nigerian government was wrong and Abiola deserved to be sworn in.

The Nigerian government? Exactly what and who is that? Several thousands of individuals have served in some capacity or the other, the nominal government apparatus of the nation. So, who exactly is it? The answer is IBB! The institutional breakdown suffered under military rule, resulted in the concentration of power about the ‘individual’. Men like IBB raised the lasso and whipped every patch of the land into agreement with their[his] view. The very same systemic quirk that made him the all-powerful controller of resources and destinies has now turned him to the sole culprit in this case of historical ‘Guess Who!’. A shame we will never get to see it air…

When the man does die, it will be apt to put two death dates on his tombstone and in the national records. To every discerning Nigerian, the fight to retain his image is over and with it his actual image. The very infallibility and omnipotence that was painstakingly and deceitfully sewn into the presentation of his image and aura has been loosened. The man’s soul had died long before today, but now we can scoop up the rotting remains for a proper burial.

The body still lives but he is gone already. And with him, the end of the uncertainty surrounding June 12.

-Dasuks

Well written piece.

I pondered alone in my room some days ago the political sagacity that could have become IBB if he had handed over to Abiola. His name would have been etched in diamond solid foundation of political venerables had he taken that one step. The clout enjoyed by OBJ would have been nowhere near respect for IBB in today's Nigeria. His falter by refusal to hand over to MKO made the saying 'a good name is better than riches' come true to all of us who witnessed the abysmal apex to which IBB self propelled. Like the author rightly concludes....on that day, Maradona actually died!

chukelvin:
Well written piece.

Thank you Sir

shakmati:
I pondered alone in my room some days ago the political sagacity that could have become IBB if he had handed over to Abiola. His name would have been etched in diamond solid foundation of political venerables had he taken that one step. The clout enjoyed by OBJ would have been nowhere near respect for IBB in today's Nigeria. His falter by refusal to hand over to MKO made the saying 'a good name is better than riches' come true to all of us who witnessed the abysmal apex to which IBB self propelled. Like the author rightly concludes....on that day, Maradona actually died!

IBB has all the riches and none of the name.