The next presidential election in Nigeria is not due until May 2007. While that might seem a long way off to some, aspirant contenders have already emerged -‒ and they include the man who plunged Nigeria into a political crisis in 1993: former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida.
In an apparent attempt to hold on to power, Babangida annulled an election that was supposed to terminate his rule in 1993. The ensuing crisis forced him out of office, and set the stage for a coup that brought General Sani Abacha to power.
Babangida’s decision to step out of the political shadows might seem an act of breathtaking audacity to some in Nigeria. Nonetheless, the former strongman has already put an elaborate campaign structure in place.
His campaign organisation, the “007 Project”, was inaugurated late last year, shortly after he registered as a member of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Local branches of the organisation are being set up across Nigeria. “The 007 project is the brain child of Ibrahim Babangida’s supporters, loyalists and friends from various professions,” says Abdulkareem Adisa, head of the group.
Like Adisa, most other members of the 007 project are either retired military officers or civilians who benefited immensely during Babangida’s rule from 1985 to 1993.
Adisa says Nigerians should give Babangida their mandate because his experience as a former head of state gives him an edge over other aspirants. This is despite the fact that the experience began with a coup that toppled Babangida’s predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
However, concerns are being raised about the prospect of Babangida emerging as president in 2007.
Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka says many have not forgotten the trauma Babangida’s rule caused them. “The memory of people is not as short as he thinks. There are so many queries he still needs to answer,” he told a gathering of journalists in Lagos.
Before annulling the 1993 poll, Babangida had for years raised and dashed hopes for a handover to civilian rule.
For this, Nigerians nicknamed him Maradona. The impression was that, like the Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona, Babangida could run rings around his political opponents.
“Babangida dribbles this way, dribbles that way. He banned and un-banned politicians, created this, created that. He was too shrewd a person,” said Soyinka.
In 1993, President Olusegun Obasanjo -‒ a critic of the Babangida administration -‒ observed, “If Babangida tells you good morning, peep out of your window to ensure it is actually morning before you answer him.”
The former leader was also accused of clamping down on press freedom. During his term in office, Dele Giwa -‒ editor of the Lagos-based Newswatch magazine -‒ was killed at home by a parcel bomb, apparently while investigating a story unfavourable to Babangida.
Following Nigeria’s return to civilian rule in 1999, President Obasanjo set up a human rights panel to look into cases of human rights violations during military rule.
Lagos lawyer and human rights advocate Gani Fawehinmi took the Giwa issue before the panel, accusing Babangida and two of his former security chiefs of the assassination.
While the panel advised an investigation into Giwa’s murder, Babangida got a court injunction restraining the government from implementing this recommendation.
“Babangida’s attempt to stop any investigation into the death of Giwa has surely posed a credibility problem for him,” says Lagos taxi driver Adeoye Olajide.
Soyinka agrees: “His score card is not that which impresses one or gives one that confidence to want to offer (him) another chance in power.”
In addition, the former strongman is accused of entrenching Nigeria’s reputation as one of the world’s most corrupt countries. “He made corruption the centre piece of his domestic and foreign policy,” says human rights activist Femi Falana.
Virtually all those who held high positions during his rule became wealthy under questionable circumstances. Yet, no action was taken against them -‒ despite widespread public outcries.
Babangida was implicated directly in one of the biggest corruption scandals to hit Nigeria. He allegedly mismanaged a total of $12,2-billion which the country earned from oil sales following the 1991 Gulf War. Nigeria is still waiting for him to give an account of what happened to the money.
But, years after taking leave of the presidency, Babangida’s political instincts appear as sharp as ever. He plays down any suggestion that he has an eye on the top government post.
Although loathe to give interviews, he was quoted recently as saying, “I won’t stick out my neck and say: OK, this is what one will be able to do in the next three or four years.”
“That could be the reason why people say that I am Maradona. But I can assure you this is not another Maradonic move,” Babangida added.
He is believed to be mending fences at the moment ‒- especially in south-western Nigeria where the greatest opposition to his rule came from.
Some people from the area are already drumming up support for him. The local chapter of Project 007 in Ogun state is urging Nigerians to forgive Babangida for his perceived wrong doings, saying that -‒ like any mortal -‒ he has his weaknesses.
Such a development would have been unthinkable only a few months ago. But, there are signs now which point to the fact that Babangida is not to be dismissed as quickly as some would choose. – IPS