(1): Northerners’ Support of IBB: Conviction or Coercion?

First published on KanoOnline Online Forum on the 24th of October, 2010

It’s nearly an election season in Nigeria. Every political party has set before the people its products for buying or otherwise. Those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the ruling party, especially in the presidential race, seem to have attracted more attention and occupied a broader political landscape. They include, among others, the incumbent president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) and the former Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB). The two, indisputably, remain the much-talked-about contenders and formidable challengers, with the former crushing the party’s ‘unofficial’ policy of zoning—where the candidacy in 2011 is said to be zoned to North—and the latter objecting to the former’s aspiration.

Other presidential hopefuls from the North, most of whom are barely ‘known’ beyond the Northern states, include General Muhammad Buhari under the umbrella of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). Although controversial, Buhari stands out among them for his virtually unblemished record as an erstwhile Head of State and holder of various ranks and offices. Yet, he could hardly be voted for by Southerners, who mostly see him as a mere Hausa-Fulani Muslim who will favour his religion and region. Governor Bukola Saraki has enough problems to settle in his state on his sister’s governorship candidature; ex-VP Atiku Abubakar is effectively politically dead and can thus scarcely win majority votes in his local government of origin; former Security Adviser to the president, General Aliyu Gusau, who, in politics, is no more than a featherweight; whilst it’s not yet time for the younger breeds like the former anti-graft commission, EFCC boss, Nuhu Ribadu. There is, thus, little or no hope in people’s minds over these contenders’ possibility and/or capability in challenging GEJ’s ardent bid in any way.

IBB did quite good to Nigeria during his reign, yet he, though arguably, is one of the most loathed leaders infamously because of the annulment of June 12, 1993 election, which is said to be the fairest, freest and most credible election ever witnessed in Nigeria’s history; his instituting of Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) in the late 1980s; and his “maradonic” dribbling throughout his stay on the Nigeria’s driver’s seat. The hatred is (or was?) so widespread that it almost fills every nook and cranny of the country. But it’s more felt here in the North as some people fumed that “son of the soil disappointed us”.

Notwithstanding the aforementioned ‘frailties’ of all the Northern contenders, Northerners still see GEJ’s ambition as dishonourable, for “it’s their turn”. Thus, by whatever possible, peaceful means, they seek an alternative and indefatigably deepen in their quest.

To make matters worse, GEJ always messes things up further. His infamy all at once outmatches that of the dictator, IBB. He is so naïve, incompetent and unfit to govern a state like Nigeria. For instance, much of a recent, in the aftermath of the October 1 tragic bomb blast in Abuja, he unwisely made utterances that are plainly unpresidential, sectional and very parochial. He boldly absolved the terrorist group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), that took responsibility for the dastardly act, adding that he knew who the attackers were. The president portrayed his real image—tribal bigot who’s so sentimental and temperamental—to the Nigerians, particularly Northerners, and the whole world, as observed by many foremost columnists and political commentators.

Eventually, many things followed that faux pas as the president sensed that IBB was really capable of upturning his much-desired wish. Hence, he decided to follow further the footsteps of his mentor, the mischievous joker and old despot, Olusegun Obasanjo. He unhesitatingly ‘ordered’ a detention and questioning of the director-general of General IBB’s campaign organisation, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, by the SSS, over the bomb blast.

The issue worsened and took a twist when Henry Okah, ‘leader’ of the MEND, revealed what had transpired between him and the presidency. He was directed to “blame the attacks on northerners…” whom the president felt were a problem to his becoming president next year. That prompted an immediate and strong condemnation of the president by the Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF), led by former finance minister Adamu Chiroma, who called on GEJ to resign or be impeached.

Days later, the same GEJ spewed more heedless words, claiming that the 6-3-3-4 education policy, established by IBB, had failed and ruined the education system. He therefore called on former education minister Professor Babatunde Fafunwa, who died days after that politically motivated call, to apologise to the Nigerian children.

These are but a few of what is there for people to witness. Many more events have happened, and more are forthcoming. Considering this and fearing for the worst, Northerners lost all confidence in him and are feeling increasingly insecure. They seek refuge, at first, by trying numerous ways, such as a consensus candidate, which has failed in the past and is prone to fail again. The last resort ultimately surfaced to be the same IBB they despised. The man, as an average Northerner, would firmly say he has both financial and human resources. He has “boys” in every city and town of the South and the North in the country. Thus, all hopes cling against him to extricate people, Northerners, from GEJ’s grip of power.