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The political camp of former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida may drag the Federal Government to court over the proposed ban on former military leader from ontesting the 2007 presidential election.

Indication to this effect emerged when the Niger State Governor, Engineer Abdulkhadir Kure, said the ban would not stand the rigours of legal challenge.

Fielding questions from journalists in Minna, Kure, an ardent Babangida supporter, asserted that those affected would go to court to challenge the ban.

“If at the end of the day, the proposal scales through, those affected will definitely go to court to challenge it, it is as simple as that.

Speaking on the impeachment moves by the National Assembly, Kure said the country needed no form of impeachment this time.
“I agree with the Senate President that we don’t need impeachment now. It is diversionary. For example if you say you want to impeach me now I will be worried.

“It is true I went to Abuja over the impeachment thing. I did not go to meet the entire National Assembly members, I went to meet my House of Representatives and three Senate members. We all agreed there is no need for impeachment,” Kure disclosed.

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LONDON — PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the on-going National Political Reform Conference may decide the political future of former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida. President Obasanjo spoke yesterday when he was confronted with questions concerning the political future and the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida during his current visit to Britain.

At an interactive session with members of African All Party Parliamentary Group at the House of Commons, London, British lawmakers wanted to know “if Babangida is still alive and whether he plans to succeed Obasanjo in 2007.”

They also wanted to know what measures Obasanjo had taken concerning allegations of financial impropriety and wrongdoings made against Babangida’s administration.

Responding, Obasanjo told the lawmakers that Babangida “is very much alive and kicking,” but had not publicly declared his intention to succeed him when he leaves office in 2007. He said although there were “speculations and rumours on allegations of wrongdoings in coffee shops and market places, not one of those allegations has been substantiated.”

Obasanjo explained that four years ago, he had established a commission of inquiry into all alleged wrongdoings of the past “with a view to finding out the truth and attracting apologies” from offenders to their victims, but that Babangida declined to appear. I appeared before the commission twice. Babangida was invited but he did not go there,” the president added.

He said when the report of the commission was submitted, Babangida went to court and stopped government from publishing it, “and we had to obey the court orders.”

Obasanjo said he believed that anyone whose reputation was tarnished or whose interest was threatened, “must do everything to protect or clean it.”

He said, however, that the report of the Oputa Commission was one of the documents sent to the on-going confab for its consideration. “No allegation has been proved or formally presented to either the EFCC or the ICPC, on the former ruler,” Obasanjo said.

The president also answered questions on which sectors of the economy he hopes to deploy the proceeds of debt relief, stressing that the money which ranges between $1.2 billion and $1.5 billion annually, would go into the budget. He said the money would be used to improve healthcare, education and infrastructure.

While thanking the Paris Club for the relief granted Nigeria, the president also requested 100 per cent debt relief for the country so that it could provide more of the devidends of democracy to Nigerians.

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President Olusegun Obasanjo Tuesday, lampooned his predecessors in office, accusing them of leading the country to the path of debts. Specifically, he said that the nation’s debt profile hit the roofs in the period between 1985 and 1995 when General Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan, Gen. Sani Abacha and Ben. Abdulsalami Abubakar were in the saddle.

Obasanjo spoke on a day Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, urged him to complete all reform programmes before his exit from office in 2007.

Addressing a joint session of the National Assembly on the report of the National Political Reform Conference and the recent debt relief granted Nigeria by the Paris Club, Obasanjo accused past leaders of squandering foreign loans obtained in the name of development.
"They signed all sorts of agreement with outrageous interest rates, squandered loans obtained in the name of development, drew down on foreign loans without executing any jobs, and in other cases stole or wasted such loans.

"To make matters worse for Nigeria, there was not one identifiable agency responsible for managing the debt. There was inadequate debt data recording system, poor information flow across agencies and levels of government, loan records were poorly kept and not only did past governments pay little or no attention to debt management, but the country also lacked a

clearly defined debt strategy," the president lamented.
Obasanjo told the National Assembly that getting debt relief was not a tea party as his administration, from the start, took it upon itself to get the nation out of the debt trap. Most of the creditor nations, he explained, did not believe that Nigeria deserved debt forgiveness, adding that some said it openly by making reference to the country’s oil deposit.

"I must confess that at some point, it looked like we were fighting a lost battle. I know many times my Honourable Minister of Finance wept for Nigeria. Even when the House of Representatives passed a resolution calling on government to stop servicing the debts and to declare a unilateral default, we were cautious," the president said.

The president listed six benefits of the debt relief, which included a direct saving on debt service repayment, interest, surcharges and other fees, improvement on the nation’s credit worthiness in the global community and stoppage of all debt rescheduling.
With the debt relief, Obasanjo said "the $1 billion currently spent on debt servicing obligations would now be available for investment in pro-people and pro-development issues, especially heath, education, water, roads, and food security."

Nigeria, he explained, would no more be branded a bad and doubtful debt country while new investment would create jobs and new wealth that would translate to improved standard of living.
Presenting the report of the National Political Reform Conference, Obasanjo challenged the National Assembly to adopt and adapt parts of the report for constitutional and legislative work.
"Whatever issues you consider of relevance that will enhance the constitution and whatever you consider relevant to existing or new legislation, I put the record before you for your necessary consideration and action," he tasked the lawmakers.

He threw the challenge back to the National Assembly, which had kicked against the confab, on the need to move the nation forward in the quest for political stability, adding that two copies of the 30 volume report had been made available for the perusal of each legislator.
Masari, in a vote of thanks, praised the doggedness of the president, which led to the granting of debt relief, but stressed the need to expedite actions on the reform programmes embarked by the president before the expirations of his tenure in 2007.
The comment of the Speaker drew wild applause from the members, apparently to confirm their disenchantment with the campaign for an extension of the tenure of the present administration by another two years.

Meanwhile, members of the National Assembly received President Obasabjo’s address with caution, calling for details of the relief.
Hon. Sani Ahmed Toro of Toro Federal Constituency in Bauchi State described the president’s address as pregnant. "We want details. We want something we can work with. We want to know what is contained in the debt profile. For the confab report, it must go through the normal procedures. This is why I think the leadership of the House must set up a committee to carefully examine the report in details and advise on what to do."

Hon U.S.A Igwesi commended the president for the success achieved in the drive for debt forgiveness. He said that the President’s address had opened his eyes to the gains of the debt relief, promising that the House would come up with "sparkling laws" that would ensure that the grassroots benefit from the debt forgiveness. He said report of the national confab would be given adequate attention.
However, Hon. Aliyu Farouk from Jigawa State, said there was noting to celebrate in what the president told the National Assembly. "The tools we use here in the National Assembly are bills and motions. What has the president come to do? I will say he has come for a party without drinks. The report of the confab is not what we need. What we need is a bill on the report, we are not the one to draw the bill, so I can’t understand."

Before the House could debate the report or treat the issue of debt forgiveness, Aliyu said that the president must first tell it where he got the N2 billion spent on the confab, adding that the Minister of Finance would be summoned to shed lights on the debt relief.

Hon Abike Dabiri said that there was nothing wrong in the president addressing the National Assembly, but harped on the need to promote justice, which she noted is the bedrock of democracy.
Hon Bako Sarai from Kano State was skeptical about the debt relief. He said that he would need to be educated on the gains and how to pay the balance. "I need to see the details of the used to write off the debts. Also, I need to see the breakdown of how we are going to pay the remaining debts," he said.
Hon. Shehu Kagara and Hon. Saiki said they would have to study the details of the report and the debt relief before they would be in a position to comment on the two issues that brought the president to the National Assembly.
While there was disagreement on the president’s speech from the House of Representatives, senators who bared their minds, said that they were ready to work with the president by studying the reports carefully.

Senate President, Ken Nnamani, who presided over the joint session, expressed confidence in the ability of the National Assembly to give the president maximum support to deliver his lofty programmes.
Senator Adeleke Mamora (Lagos State) said that it was good that the president spoke on the need for give and take so that the country would move forward.
Maturity, he said, was what the nation needs at all level of governance and called on people holding power to put the nation first in everything.

Senator Yari Ghandi (Sokoto South) said that Tuesday was the first time members of the National Assembly would be receiving detail report about the debt relief and the outcome of the confab.
"Now that the president has explained to us in details, we are now in a position to look at the papers concerning the agreement dispassionately and to consider the merit," he said.
Before President Obasanjo addressed, the House, observed a minute silence in the memory of Senator Joshua Adagba from Benue West Senatorial District who died on Monday at the National Hospital, Abuja.
The late Senator Adagba replaced controversial Senator Kennedy Waku.

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The Presidency has revealed that a sizeable slice of the $36billion debt owed foreign creditors by Nigeria was used to purchase and stock sardines for the military by the General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida regime in 1986.

Director General of the Debt Management Office (DMO) in the Presidency, Dr. Mansur Mukhtar, who made this revelation, also said that some state governments used their commissioners to sign up notarised notes (Notary public) which accepted agreements with clauses that waived Nigerian immunity for the foreign creditors.

Mansur, just back from a debt re-scheduling mission, made these revelations while addressing Economics students of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria under the aegis of the National Economics Students Association of Nigeria (NESA) weekend.

The DMO boss said, however, that President Olusegun Obasanjo shares the blame for some of the debt problems as he took $3billion loan in two tranches. He said, however, that the subsequent administration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari compounded the debt profile with profligate spending, which in turn cultivated an increasing consumption pattern that could not be sustained.

He added that, a most bizarre discovery was that parts of the $36billion loan were used to purchase hospital equipment that never arrived Nigeria, while a large chunk was used under the Babangida regime to import sardines for the military. "And it was very revealing, some of the loans that we saw. Figures, monies, huge amount of money taken to buy sardines and stock for the military. Huge amount of money signed up to buy hospital equipment that never arrived.

"But we had all the legal documents that had been signed and sometimes our own people, commissioners at the state level, signing a notarised note (notary public) that they have duly accepted those things. "But many of the agreements had also clauses that waived our sovereign immunity, meaning that if Nigeria failed to service any of those debts, any of the creditors could get to court not in Abuja or Zaria or Lagos, but a court in London.

"It is very specific about the jurisdiction either in London or Europe or somewhere and in the event of the judgment, they will lay claims to the assets of Nigeria abroad, including monies of the Central Bank and oil transactions of the NNPC. We had signed off all those. So, these were what we were confronted with when we went to reschedule with IMF," he said.
The Director General also explained why the Paris Club was reluctant to grant Nigeria debt relief, saying, Nigerians, who were in Paris in 1986 to negotiate debt re-scheduling displayed an affluent lifestyle that surpassed those of their creditors.

"The first time we went to Paris Club was in 1986. But what happened? Our leadership then, people that went to Paris Club for these meetings; when they went to Paris, they stayed in the most expensive hotel. They kept the creditors waiting for nearly one hour.
"And when they were coming; they came in five to six limousines; these long cars. So they were not taken seriously. Again, they agreed to reschedule over a long time and then successively, we did not meet the terms of rescheduling.

"In 1986, we rescheduled. We were not paying. In 1989, we rescheduled again. In 1991, we rescheduled again. In 2000, when we went to reschedule, we were presented $21billion that had to be rescheduled.

"But do you know what? Out of that $21billion, 24 percent of that were penalties that accrued. So about $5.5billion was penalty that accrued between 1992 and 2000, because then, the government had stopped servicing those debts," he further said. Mukhtar also said that the debts were a trap and described the profile as a "no-win situation" since the loans appreciated as payments were being made.

For instance, he said, "In 2001, when we had reconciled with our creditors, we were talking about a debt stock of $28.7billion. In 2002, even when we had paid money, it had gone up to $30billion. In 2003, it went up to $31.9billion and so on. And in 2004, we were talking about $36billion".

The Director General remarked that the cancellation of about 60 percent of the debt (about $18billion) calls for a sober reflection, "a period for asking questions, legitimate questions. How did we find ourselves in this quagmire? What is the origin of these debts, these loans that were incurred? The loan that we took, what did we do with the money? We took the money and what happened with it? Did it produce any positive result? What about all the interests and penalties that we have been paying? How can we justify it? Why didn’t we repudiate it in the past?"

The DMO boss gave a detailed account of the origins of the debts, noting that Nigeria started borrowing in 1958 when she took about 30 million pounds concessional loan from the World Bank with very low interest rate and 10 years grace period with 50 years re-payment term to build a railway structure.
He also disclosed that the first educational loan was taken in 1965 to expand infrastructural facilities in secondary and technical institutions, adding that, "again, this was a soft loan and there were a few of these which were taken up to the late 70s and we didn’t have problems in our debt profiles.
"The debt service was about $30 million to $40 million per annum which was quite manageable. And then, as we started getting resources from oil, then it coincided with the period of the 70s when there was a lot of money in the system,

"The petrol dollars was put in the western banks and so, they started encouraging us to borrow, and came up with this notion that we were under-borrowed. Nigeria is an under-borrowed, country".
Mansur therefore warned Nigerians to brace up for hard times as the Federal Government was prepared to pay the $6billion arrears on penalties in September as well as the remaining $8billion of the total debt six months later to free future generations from the shackles of debt burden.

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Over 30 buses, packed full with PDP supporters and sympathizers of ex-military president Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida from Kano, arrived Minna, the Niger State capital, on Thursday last week for a ‘thank you’ and solidarity visit to the former leader.

Daily Sun was told that the Kanawa were in Minna to thank the General for appointing a Kano man, Col. Habibu Idris Shua’ibu his Chief of Staff and the former Speaker, Ibrahim Salisu Buhari, the coordinator of the North-West for the actualization of his second coming ambition towards 2007.
After receiving his people on behalf of the former President, Col. Habibu Shu’aibu, IBB’s new Chief of Staff, appealed to them to move to the elitist El-Amin International School, run by the General’s wife, Hajiya Maryam Babangida, for lack of space: “My good people of Kano State, you are all welcome; the former president has been informed of your presence but may I crave your indulgence that we relocate to the El-Amin International School and wait for him to receive us there, as you can see, the space here cannot contain us.”

At the main hall of the school, the visitors sang and praised IBB to high heavens until he (IBB), looking trim, athletic and fortyish, strolled into the hall, donning a purple Babariga and a matching cap with a pair of shoes. Almost instantly, the singing crowd rose to their feet and shouts of “Nigeria sai Baba!” and “IBB Muke so!!” (‘only Baba can lead Nigeria’ and ‘We want IBB’) filled the hall.

The General was accompanied by the Niger State Governor, Engr. Abdulkadir Kure, former Military Administrator of the State and now his Chief of Staff, Col. Habibu Idris Shu’aibu, as well as Senator Hamisu Musa, leader of the visitors from Kano and many top PDP henchmen, four serving members of the National Assembly, seven former commissioners in the Kwankwaso administration of Kano State, two former speakers of Kano State House of Assembly, one former majority leader of the State House of Assembly, four former local government chairmen and 11 serving members of Kano State House of Assembly, among others.

The ovation had hardly subsided when Comrade Wada Waziri, former Director-General (Security), Kano State, who acted as the master of ceremonies (M.C), picked up the microphone and declared: “Your Excellency, General Ibrahim Babangida, the leader of yesterday and the leader of tomorrow, God willing, all these people you see here are the representatives of the various interest groups in Kano, who have come to thank you and to identify with your aspiration for the good things you have done, in and out of office, for the people of Kano and, indeed, for the people of Nigeria.”

Speaker after speaker extolled IBB’s virtues, they touched on such lofty programmes such as the Accelerated Wheat Production Programme, which his government introduced in the state that created job opportunities for the unemployed and increased the earnings of the Kano farmers. An old and frail rice farmer from Kura, Kano State stood up and said:

“I had lost hope of enjoying modern facilities such as a car, generator, television, video player etc until you (IBB) introduced wheat production programme in Kano. I can say we benefited a lot from the programme because we produced wheat and there was a ready market, created by the government. I did not only enjoy the modern facilities, I was able to train my six children through the universities, rebuild my house and, today my children are in good positions and they cater for me and their mother. For this, I have come with them to say thank you.”

Another speaker reminded the audience that it was the administration of IBB that built the Kano/Kaduna/Abuja dual carriage way: “In the past, we used to travel for seven hours from Kano to Abuja but now, we can do so in four hours. We thank you for that and also, we have to thank you for establishing the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Kano; the local government system in Nigeria was made to work as a truly third tier of government during your time because you ensured their financial independence. We will never forget these and many other good things that you have done for this country. You are the father of the nation, come back and salvage it.”

When it was his turn to talk, Senator Hamisu Musa, said the Kano people have decided finally to put their hopes on IBB to run for president in 2007 and added: “They call you Babangida but as from today, your name is Baban-Nigeria (father of Nigeria)! Because we (Nigerians) deserve to be led by you, we urgently need your foresight, intelligence and guidance to carry on as a nation.”

Commenting on the visit of the Kano politicians to IBB, Niger State Governor, Engr. Abdulkadir Kure, praised Kano’s pioneering role in politics. “I can say Kano is the engine room of the politics of Northern Nigeria, nay Nigeria, for this, I am taking this visit with all the seriousness that it deserves, the former president is sitting right here and has heard all you said. Thank you for this very important visit, my brothers and sisters from Kano,” he said.

Finally, it was now IBB’s turn to make a remark but he, in his usual characteristic manner, did not say much on his interest to return as the next president after Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. “I thank you so much for this show of solidarity. I know that the people of Kano love me and it is not today’s idea. When I was in government, I went to Kano on State visit and was surprised at the show of love and compassion that the Kanawa showered on me. There is a long standing tradition of friendship between the people of Kano and Niger States, so I know that your coming here to see me is borne out of your genuine love for me. I thank you very, very much for this. As for your request and prayers that I come back as the servant of our people once again, may Allah answer your prayers.”


At the St. Dominic Catholic Church Yaba, the last place of work for the late Reverend, sympathisers had continued throng the area in large numbers, signing the condolence register, which was opened on Wednesday after the attack on Tuesday August 2, 2005.
Some of the messages read: "Godwin, we will miss you. We are pain in our heart over this, Rest in Peace."

Reverend Okwesili was killed by persons suspected to be armed robbers who had stormed the church, gaining access to the pastors’ resident where they killed the Deacon.
Investigation by Daily Sun revealed that another reverend was the target of the bandits, but he narrowly missed their gun, as they failed to identify him.
Reverend Okwesili Daily Sun gathered was the Spiritual Director of the Charismatic Movement of the St. Dominic Church and was described by some members of the Church as very outspoken and prayerful.

Indeed, it was gathered that the robbers when they arrived the reception of the pastors resident, asked to see Reverend Lucas, whom Daily Sun learnt they had passed on their way to the priory.
The church in its Sunday bulletin, confirmed that the assailants had asked after an unidentified priest before they disclosed their true identity.

The write-up in the bulletin which was titled Our Story, Death of Reverend Godwin Okwesili, O.P and signed by Father MaryVin Ubili, reads; "On Tuesday, 2nd August 2005, at about 4.45pm, three young men came to the Reception Desk of the Priory (Clergy House) in St. Dominic Catholic Church, Yaba, Lagos. One of them had a neatly rapped "parcel," while two had nothing visible with them.
"There were other people at the reception, both young and old, waiting to be attended to. None of the three men asked after any particular Dominican father or brother. The parcel-holder told the receptionist that one of the priest prayed for their brother who travelled to the United States of America and had sent them to come and thank the priest with the parcelled gift."

The church said that the robbers while attempting to open the parcel asked the receptionist to sign that he received the gift, but the receptionist declined.
While narrating how Reverend Okwesili got into the picture, the church said that, "The stampede and commotion during the operation; apparently made Reverend Godwin Okwesili to come out unsuspectingly to find out why there was so much unusual noise in the house.
"He was shot dead instantly in front of his room’s door. The lead-robber blamed the shooter: Why did you shoot? Why did you shoot? The shooting ended their mission, as they all left immediately."

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FORMER Minister for Information and pro-IBB campaigner, Chief Alex Akinyele, yesterday disclosed that former President Ibrahim Babangida was now ready to apologise to Nigerians and the South West people in particular over the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election presumably won by the late Bashorun MKO Abiola.

Akinyele disclosed this just as he further claimed IBB had not paid him for campaiging for him.

Featuring on Ogun State Television (OGTV) Yoruba personality programme Ojumoo Ree yesterday, Akinyele who spoke extempore in Yoruba language, declared "IBB is ready to apologise to the aggrieved over the annulment of June 12 election. I will be beside him when he's doing so".

He, however, appealed to the Yorubas in particular and Nigerians at large to forgive the former president after tendering his apology in order to move the nation forward.

Akinyele who likened Babangida's role in the annulment to the Biblical Pontius Pilate, said he (IBB) reluctantly cancelled the polls following irresistible pressure from "Yoruba monarchs, Emirs, the military and clerics."

The Ondo chief appealed to Nigerians to support the presidential ambition of IBB for 2007, saying "IBB will correct all his mistakes and improve on his previous performances".

Akinyele disclosed that as IBB's campaigner, he has not been rewarded monetarily, adding that IBB would soon do so.

Akinyele who admitted that callers gave him tough time with their uncomplimentary and probing questions on IBB's role in the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidentual elections, told the anchor of the programme that he may not honour the station's invitation next time based on his experience at the programme.

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IBB borrows N10 to pay for PDP registration - Retains Number 007

FORMER military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), revalidated his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) membership on Wednesday but forgot to come to the ward office with the mandatory N10 registration fee. After being registered by the Ward chairman, Alhaji Bala Kura, the former military president was asked to pay the N10 fee before he could be issued with the membership card.

General Babangida checked his two side pockets and found out that he had no N10 on him. He then turned to the Minna Local Government Chairman of the party, Alhaji Mohammed Nma Kolo and asked in Hausa “Chairman ka bani N10” (chairman, give me N10). Kolo, who was surprised, dipped hand into his pocket and brought out a new N10 note, which he handed over to General Babangida, who then gave it to Alhaji Bala Kura. It was after this that Alhaji Bala Kura issued the revalidated membership card to the former military president which showed that he (Babangida) still maintained his 007 registration number though 295 was now added to the number as the ward code making his new number 295007.

Answering questions from journalists after the registration, General Babangida said “I think this is the first step of being active in politics, the next step is to go through the process as laid down by the party’s constitution. “My intention is to go through the process, there is a laid down procedure and you have to go through them, it will be presumptuous so far to say that I joined for the purpose of presidency,” the former military president said in answer to a question about his 2007 ambition.

“I joined for the purpose of service to the people”, adding that he was willing and ready to serve the people in any capacity. General Babangida, who said his ward party officials had advised him to remain peaceful and loyal to the party, added: “This advice, I will follow”, saying that he would also be attending meetings when invited. The revalidation of General Babangida’s membership of the party was turned to a carnival by his supporters and associates who turned out in specially made dress carrying IBB portrait at the ward office.

The ever busy Sabon Gari-Kuta road was blocked as the National Vice Chairman, North Central Zone of the PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Magaji, and the state chairman of the party, Alhaji Umar Farouk, ushered General Babangida to the registration venue.Governor Abdulkhadir Kure and Deputy Governor, Shem Zagbayi Nuhu, led all members of the Niger State executive council to the ceremony which started at 10.03 a.m. Also present were Professor Omo Omoruyi, Dr. Godwin Daboh and Mohammed, son of General Babangida.

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Mark my word, if there is going to be any handover of power at all, then the man that is likely to succeed President Olusegun Obasanjo is retired General Ibrahim Babangida the gap-toothed ex-Military President who for eight years ruled this nation and then “stepped aside”.

We are still reading the lips of the former Military ruler. He has not made any official pronouncement yet about his intentions but his body languages and surreptitious conduct are clear indices that the man is still interested in the job. This man they call “IBB” has a history of dribbling round the pitch but the day he comes out to announce that he would contest the presidency except God stands in his way, lie would not only have his say but he would equally have his way.

Never mind that he has been assailed by serious moral allegations that he annulled the June 12, 1993 presidential election adjudged to be the freest and the fairest in the annals of Nigeria’s political history. If I were to play the devil’s advocate, I would argue that IBB only robbed Peter to pay Paul because the presidential diadem that he stole from Abiola the acclaimed winner, he had on a platter of gold handed it over to Obasanjo the “Governor-General of all Governors.”

Apart from IBB’s contempt for the Oputa Panel, there are other sundry allegations against him. Among which are that he introduced the punitive structural adjustment programme at a time when malnutrition was already making a mockery of the masses. That he could not account for the 12 billion US dollars Gulf war oil windfall. That the nation is still waiting with bated breath for IBB to confess to the gruesome murder of DeIe Giwa the “Odionwere” or the Dean of Nigerian Journalism.

These are serious charges. But they are charges seen only through the prism of morality. And when immorality is juxtaposed with empiricism or realism then it is not easy for such charges to derail the presidential ambition of the Prince of the Niger. There is no doubt that a man who commits iniquities of this magnitude obviously lacks the moral credentials to rule this country but if you are still holding on to that view knowing fully well that there are no moral hindrances that can stop a desperate IBB, then you are on your own.

Don’t forget that this General whose mortal sins have been attenuated by the healing powers of time, operates at the very apex of the inner caucus of the ruling class. Besides IBB is the grandmaster of “the retired military” and by extension an emergent socio-political force in Nigeria. He is also the godfather and the grand-patron of the nouveaux riche. That is talking about the new breed politicians made up of governors, senators, ministers, advisers etc.

The fact of the matter is that IBB belongs to the exclusive club of the billionaires and many of those who had been touched by his grace fiercely remain loyal to him even in retirement. And they cut across ethnic, religious, professional and ideological divides. This is the main base of IBB’s power and this is one of the most compelling reasons why IBB is the anointed Prince or the heir apparent to the throne.

At the other end of the political spectrum, President Olusegun Obasanjo is a very hard nut to crack, come weal or woe. Mr. President would never handover, until he is sure that he has got a credible successor.

Having brought Nigeria on the radar screen of international limelight, President Olusegun Obasanjo would want to handover to a man with a great sense of mission; a kind of incorruptible leader that would carry out his economic reforms and make Nigeria the country of our dream. When the chips are down, the man that is likely to benefitfrom this frantic search for a successor even though he is not “Mr Clean” is IBB.

IBB certainly is one of the best visionary, progressive and patriotic leaders that you can count on to deal with the forces of disunity. He will be a great president if given a second chance because he would have learnt his lesson. Since once bitten a man is a thousand times shy, a rejuvenated or a “Born Again” IBB, would want to use such a golden opportunity to put up a star performance that would launch him on the pages of history. The return of IBB, therefore, does not necessarily mean a return to the days of the Biblical Sodom and Gomorrah or to the darkest era of the primordial addiction to corruption and avaricious lifestyles.

IBB may be an “Evil Genius” or a Maradonna with a reputation for scoring goals with his fingers, yet he is a gifted manager of men and resources in spite of himself For a man like IBB who brought a certain amount of panache or razzmatazz to governance, you really cannot but be enamoured of his excellent human relations at the interpersonal level. Even the innocent and infectious smiles of the retired-General would make

one’s bones melt like snow not to talk of his presidential military handshake.

Personally, I am opposed to zoning or to any geo-political zonal arrangement. The reason is that it cheapens the presidency. Since at this stage of our nascent democracy we cannot afford to trivialise the presidency, my recommendation is that every potential candidate must in addition to possessing the presidential endowment be popularly elected based on his unblemished track record. We must insist on electing the very best and brightest among the very top contenders regardless of whether a particular candidate comes from the North, East, West, or South or from the remotest part of the country.

For this arrangement to be workable some individuals, groups and institutions must be willing to sacrifice their interests for the general good of the country. It is this kind of large-heartedness that we all need in our quest for political power to satisfy our personal and sectional interests.

Even after President Olusegun Obasanjo, if a Yoruba man like Gani Fawehinmi or Harry Akande proves to me to be the most articulate and the most electable candidate for the number one job I will vote for him. The other candidate I will possibly vote for without any reservation of course, is Bamanga Tukur. If we begin to hammer too much on “rotational presidency” or the power-shift formula, then we might end up fielding candidates who neither have the prerequisites nor the talents for the job. Such a scenario in this age of digital and high technology, is like putting one step forward and a hundred steps backward.

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