Babangida for President

Babangida for President! Why not?

Africans never cease to amaze me particularly Nigerians. On the one hand a group of Nigerians (the Gani's camp) are asking for Babangida's head and on the other hand a group of hold over from Babagida’s first watch as the Nigeria Head of State held what seems like a reunion in , Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria: The purpose was to test or measure or even both the pulse of Nigerian citizens on what they feel and think about Babangida’s come back. Babangida first came to the attention of his fellow citizens when he helped foiled the so called Dimka putsch. Like every other soldier of fortune or should I say military opportunists, he himself eventually became a military Head of State. The man is very ambitious, for this I admire him, an ambitious man is a man who is teachable and who always prepares himself ready for the matters ahead. In whatever situation, I will take an ambitious man to someone just waiting in the wings, so the winds of opportunity will blow their way.

I can not write much regarding Babangida’s successes or failures during the period he was the Head of State of Nigeria. Some have argued that he accomplished so much and some have said that he was a complete let down, another wasted opportunity. What we can not disagree upon is the issue of June 12, let me say here that I am no fan of MKO. I have decided to not write anything on the matter relating to June 12, only because much has been written and said about the events which led to the annulment of June 12. I leave June 12 to those who are obsessed by it. One thing is clear, Abiola is dead and we must learn to move on.

I will say without hesitation that it was during the Babangida’s regime that whatever little shred of decency left in the moral fabrics or tissues of most Nigerians was destroyed. The few good ones who could not endure the financial hardship placed upon them by walking the narrow path, joined them in the frenzy which collimated the wanton and mindless corruption the likes of which we have never witnessed before in Nigeria. The ones who absolutely will not soil their hands in any form of illegitimate gains, found their ways to the United States of America, I should say many of these group have done extremely well for themselves in the USA. A lot of them simply took advantaged of the freedom of creativity and started their own companies with just Faith in God, who is able. I should say that many have prospered.

It was during the Babangida’s regime that the Universities lecturers were not being paid, and of course many fled to other countries where their contributions will be valued. It was during the Babangida’s regime that the Lebanese had an unprecedented and unrestricted access to the Nigerian treasury, I even saw his picture attending a wedding ceremony held by the Chouighouris (pardon me if I spelled their name wrong, I am not a Lebanese) in Monte Carlo, all of these on Nigerian money. Babangida probably does not know that, but the truth is Babangida is an economic traitor to his mother land. Anyone who colluded actively or in part to defraud the Nigerian Government with foreigners is to me an economic traitor. A Bubba.

It was during the Babangida’s regime that many Nigerians took to all forms of illegal activities, credit card fraud, drug pushing. It was even said that Babangida’s wife was one of those who actively participated in drug trade. How low can the first family of any nation get, this so far is the lowest of the lowest. The Babangida’s helped to transform a financially desperate people into criminals by tacitly endorsing it and actively participating in it. It was during the Babangidas regime that Nigerians came to the United with a primary motive or goal to be criminals. Years ago when I first arrived this country, it was unheard of that a Nigerian is in jail in the USA for crimes other than INS related violations, today there is a whole population of Nigerians in jail for all types of crimes. Thanks to Babangida. Let me be very clear on this, Babangida is really not responsible for those who chose the short cut, everyone is accountable for his/her own deed and not someone else. All that Babangida did was provided the kind of leadership that promotes crimes and acquisition of quick wealth.

It is the same Babangida that the Ambassador of Sharia, the one and only professor from Kenya, Ali Mazrui, Ph.D has invited to Chicago State University, Chicago, IL, for special recognition. I know well that University of Chicago will never allow such a thing to take place on their premises. That is the difference between serious scholarship and ebony type of scholarship, for lack of better word. That is the difference between Time, Newsweek, US Report magazines and Ebony Magazines. It is simply a lot of paint gloss and no substance. I should also say that none of the schools which I attended would have allowed it to happen. SUNY Institute of Technology, Utica, NY or Case Institute of Technology, Cleveland, OH, or Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago IL. All these fine schools would have rejected such a gathering for the simple reason that it will offer no lasting academic benefits to the lives of the students. I doubt it very much if SUNY, Binghamton where the so called keynote speaker is a teacher would have allowed it. I know they will not, and Ali Mazrui knows it too. This mindless show of Nigerian Heads of State at a black University is at worst very destructive to the black community and at best very self serving to Ali Mazrui Ph.D.

I am not at all surprised that Ali Mazrui will do something like this, the man like I said in “ Ali Mazrui has done it again” is trying very hard to be relevant in the black community and to his admirers from the Nigerian northern countries. What bothered me about all these is that some Nigerians were wasting their time trying to stop this shameless parade of all the Nigerian strong men at Chicago State University. Let them have their 15 minutes of fame at Chicago State. If the event were to take place at say University of Chicago, I would have been greatly disturbed, but at Chicago State, nah, I don’t think so. I say let them have their day with all there camera men to capture the event for them. As for me I will not loose a sleep over it. I say to Babangida, Buhari and Co., have your day in Chicago.

Having said all these, I am however, not aware of anywhere in the whole wild world where Babangida has been found guilty of any wrong doing. I simply stated all the areas in which I happen to disagree with him. Based upon all these: Is Babangida qualify to run for the president of Nigeria ? I will say yes, he is very qualified to run for the office of the president of Nigeria, he will not get my vote though. The choice of who should rule Nigeria, I think, is best left with the Nigerian voters provided the election is free, open and fair. If the electorates know everything they know about Babangida and they still want to elect him as their president let it be. In a democracy, the wish of the people must prevail.

Just the other day, I ready on the Internet how the Archbishop of the Church of England apologized for the misdeeds of his country men and women all over the continent of Africa, particularly Nigeria. In the same spirit, I think Babangida should apologize for his misdeeds while he was in office --- particularly of turning over Nigerian treasury to the Lebanese and driving many weak nature Nigerians to criminality.