11 Dec 2006 |
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IBB: UNMASKING THE “SPHINX”
In an earlier article titled “The IBB antidote”, I had argued that IBB be allowed to go through the mill of the democratic process and contest for the presidency in Nigeria. I was of the opinion that an IBB defeat through democratic means would strip IBB of the mystery his horde of sycophant and apologists have shrouded him with. My friends and peers did not buy completely into the idea of IBB being allowed to contest, they viewed the electoral process as greatly inept, corruptible and easily manipulated by money, plenty of which they argue the Minna hilltop general has at his disposal. Their fear was that given the nature of our electoral system and political culture giving IBB an opportunity to run would be tempting the cat with fish, rather they insisted he be denied the opportunity to contest. My friends, individuals who are deeply conscious of democratic ideals and values, would cast aside their principles and subscribe to the undemocratic notion of disallowing IBB to contest because of the fear of IBB. I submit that deep in the Nigerian consciousness there lies this enduring myth of infallibility about IBB that is not supported empirically. Nigerians are known to be easy prey to emotions, speculation and hearsay, a lot of our assertions particularly as concerning IBB’s prowess have little facts to them thus creating this “sphinx like” figure that we have we have continued to perpetuate though the years. Blinded by our hatred, angered by the wasted years of IBB rule, being ultimate victims of the subversive culture of corruption engendered by IBB and his minions we have created and emboldened the “IBB sphinx”, complete with the crop of our supposedly brilliant brains and dregs of society who occasionally as they seem fit lend him their shifting loyalty. Empirically what we see is that given the time and place of the IBB years anyone could achieve what the gap-tooth general did, Sani Abacha achieved the same he just added an extra flavor of brazen violence to it! Even the circumstances of the IBB coup does not lend credence to the strongman status his myth engenders, in a Nigeria crushed by the intolerance represented by the Buhari – Idiagbon regime, Nigeria was begging for a coup, if IBB and his team (Abacha et.al.) did not move maybe we would have had another major’s coup like Nzeogwu’s, even at this IBB needed his predecessor out of the country in Mecca to strike and when faced with a bloody coup as was the Orkar coup, Wole Soyinka’s You Must Set Forth at Dawn paints a shaken IBB, not the strong towering general that crushed a coup our myth paints. As the years since his regime has unfolded the “ordinariness” of IBB continues to lay bare before us and we see the more that adherence to base values rather than genius should be subscribed to his ascent and stay in power. IBB perfected the culture of having a harem of advisers and his purportedly brilliant advisers sold him different ideas as to push the nation forward, if he had any claim at brilliance he should have weeded the ruinous ones from the beneficial ones, but in the end we ended with a looted treasury, inflation, high unemployment and deteriorating economic structure, though today intellectual occupants of his harem struggle to re-write history. IBB could not deliver on the freest and fairest election in Nigeria, rather in his usual guile he claims he was forced not to uphold the mandate by a stronger cabal within the army, so much for the strong man who claimed to be in-charge and held sway! The truth remains that IBB was just as ordinary as any other opportunist in power and as an opportunist he milked every rule in deceit to stay in power till his “stepping aside”. My point exactly is that the making of a dictator or tyrant needs no genius as it is being ascribed to IBB. Contemporary history has shown empirically as in the cases of Papa Doc, Pinochet, Eyadema, Samuel Doe, Idi-Amin, Mobutu and their ilk that the making of a dictator in countries with no solid democratic institution and a history of strong leadership does not require brilliance rather an abundance of the base attributes of man such as manipulation and dishonesty. As parameters such as multiple ethnic groups, multiple languages and multiple religions are thrown into the equation it becomes easier to create the dictator, thrust into the Nigerian scene still reverberating with the wounds of the civil war and tribal politics with all its bitterness, two failed republics, religious tensions and a tottering global economy creating the IBB dictatorship did not need genius or a strongman it needed a prevaricating, multifaceted, patronizing, gun wielding adventurer – IBB was the right man, with the right base instincts at the right time – if we term this genius then we must recognize also recognize the genius of Abacha! In quitting the race for president, IBB cites filial loyalty to the father of the Late Musa Musa YarAdua who he claims raised him. He believes as usual he can insult our collective intelligence as he portrays himself as a loyal person, but one is forced to ask where this virtue was when needed to save the life of Mamman Vasta whom he had known since childhood? Where was this virtue in saving the life of Late Musa YarAdua from his alter ego Sani Abacha? Conveniently in these cases IBB’S hands were tied. The truth remains that empirically it is proven that IBB is loyal only to IBB, this present smokescreen is classic of his opportunism (always masked with virtue), and the only reason why IBB has pulled out of this race is simply because he cannot submit himself to a democratic process where he is not sure of the outcome and knowing fully well that a defeat would demystify the myth surrounding the sphinx, fostering the “ordinariness” of this infantry solider, so he has chosen to retreat. I believe in the infallibility of the truth and democracy as a form of government remains our best route to truth albeit its flaws especially as practiced in Nigeria, but again we see that at times the wheel of democracy turns and it does cover considerable ground, As the defeat of President Obasanjo’s third term through a democratic process we actually again seen the suspension (temporary or permanent) of the ambition of IBB as a testament that democracy and the truth remain formidable opponents no matter who they face. To corrupt the truth in the open becomes increasingly difficult in a democracy that is being strengthened and IBB and his harem of apologists must have entertained the possibility of defeat, in the absence of decrees, judges to bribe, guns to wield or state sponsored intimidation, like ordinary mortals they go tail between their legs and make a hasty retreat. With his bruised ego, as with wounded ordinary men Babaginda might seek his ambition on another platform, or bid his time. I still seek a defeat of the retreating general in a general election so as to complete the demystification of IBB. Leadership requires men of strong character with unwavering values, whose words and actions can survive the scrutiny of light as provided in strong democracies and as our democracy evolves we shall evolve leaderships befitting our aspirations. Thus the premium is to build our democratic structure, our present day clowns, whom we call politicians, are a necessary temporary nuisance, but as with all evolving systems we shall evolve a stronger system that can only be manned with men of strong character and vision, till then we would do with what we have….
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