Dear Ibrahim Babangida:

My attention has been drawn to the letter dated October 31, 2006 that you wrote to the Senate, making yourself available for the country’s top job. I was writing a thesis on Issue Based Elections, I could have incorporated your issues in it, but I know your abilities or lack of same would hamper your understanding. So I interrupt my writing to address you directly to say you do not qualify. I know that if I write this addressed to you, you are too vain to let it pass.

You do not Qualify

You do not qualify because you do not have a basic understanding of the problems at stake in Nigeria as displayed by your desire to institutionalize the “worthy achievements” of the last seven and a half years. And sir, you are neither in any position to nor do you have the experience to be “reinforcing the pillars of the country’s federalism.” This is because, with the greatest respect, I do not think that you understand what all that dogon turenci means. It means that; if ever you get to be President in a Democracy, you cannot have your way in for instance Bayelsa, Benue , Lagos or Katsina   States . That if you want to visit any of those states and the respective elected Governors or Legislators wish, they may properly ignore you and not have to spread out the red carpet you have come to demand as a dictator and that would be exercising their states rights. I do not think Alhaji, that Mariam would like that.

 You are not God’s Gift to Nigeria

Sir, I have also noticed that each time we praise a technocrat for a start in the right direction; you have been heard to quickly put him down. I shall give two instances: We had praised El-Rufai for his work on Abuja and hinted that Nigeria needed his kind to lead; you quickly came out to say that Nigeria was too complex to leave in the hands of a political neophyte. Does coup plotting make one an expert in democracy? Recently, in an interview, you were quoted as saying that you do not join issues with your subordinates regarding Ribadu. Since you are not the oldest, brightest or most senior general, what makes you think no one can question your wisdom? Would you say your experience is positive experience? What have you ever manufactured that worked for Nigeria ? What progress did you bequeath Nigeria as a democrat? Were your banning and unbanning politicians, shifting of hand-over time-tables and annulment [so sorry, canceling] of free and fair elections attributes you want the Nigerian democrat to imbibe, O wise one?

 Invoking the Constitution?

 Alhaji: Your speech/letter writer had unbelievably written;

 “As the search for a new leadership begins, I am aware that well-meaning and qualified Nigerians have indicated interest in joining the race for elective public office at various levels in the exercise of their rights as guaranteed by the constitution of the country. Taking into consideration the enormity of the challenges of development that confront us, we are again at the crossroads in the political history of our country when the benefit of relevant experience and tested patriotic commitment of the nation are desirable. This is more in order to sustain and advance the vision of a united stable and prosperous Nigeria .”

A search for “new leadership” cannot by any stretch of the imagination include you, Ibrahim. You are a dirty piece of our past nightmare we would rather wake out of and promptly forget. Howbeit, a leader is someone who is taking his people somewhere. I do not even think you know where you are going, alone. Then again, you mention rights under the constitution. Walahi talahi, Mallam, I do not believe it! This is because that same constitution that you invoke to give you rights to contest, has also provided for the right to life, right to freedom from arrest, right to freedom of opinion and of the press that you so denied the Nigerian people for eight solid years when you reigned as the Dictator-in-Chief. But since you now respect the constitution, Alhaji, let us look at one provision that has always been there in all the constitutions you swore to defend as a ‘patriotic’ soldier:

(2) The Federal   Republic of Nigeria shall not be governed, nor shall any persons or group of persons take control of the Government of Nigeria or any part thereof, except in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.

Please in your reply tell us why we should not try you for treason. Some credit you with intelligence you do not have, but for this assignment, please feel free to consult your coterie of conscienceless or morally bankrupt Senior lawyers who you may buy with the stash of money stolen from the people to protect you against the people you so want to save.

What Vision?

One last thing, you have always said how you want to give Nigeria direction. The question, Alhaji is; what vision? What are your programs, what would you do differently? What do you think of corruption, the stealing of public funds and stashing it in Switzerland and offshore places? Julius Berger building mansions for public servants while in office? If you hate the EFCC because it went after your son, what would you do with it? In a democracy, sir, we ask the questions and you give us answers. We are not your subordinates; ‘we the people’ are the Masters of our destiny. It is a truism that God gives power, but God does not vote or campaign, the people do. During campaigns, we ask questions Mallam. And sometimes even those not given power steal it [like coup plotters] and it is our duty to resist them. Or don’t you think so?

Until I write you again;

Sai watarana Alhaji.

 Yours truly

 E. Terfa Ula-Lisa, Esq.

Robot  Villager

# 1 The question, Alhaji is; what vision? What are your programs, what would you do differently? What...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 18.11.2006 00:27

Onos  Villager

# 2 Ladies and gentlemen of the Village Square, Effective immediately, I want to openly declare my unabashed support for General Ibrahim Babangida's presidency in 2007. Please General Babangida, we, your loyal sycophants, are begging you in the name of Allah. Do not be swayed by the numerous malicious articles written about you on the internet -- especially the Nigeria Village Square -- condemning and maligning you since you declared your candidacy. Walahi talahi, their evil machination will not work. They will never succeed! Nothing will stop you from coming back to rule Nigeria in 2007! Again, we beg you in the name of Allah, do not feel intimidated with all these watery articles. Do not be pushed by them to withdraw your candidacy. We, the loyal sycophantic youths are behind you till the very end. Insha Allah! If you truly feel like me, if you really want IBB to come back, if you strongly belive IBB is the messiah that Nigeria needs urgently, and if you believe in the sweetness of egunje, then please sing JOYFULLY along with me, On the marchini <on the marchini> Nigeria on the marchini <on the marchini> Looking for Mr President <on the marchini> IBB, is our man-i-o! IBB, is our man-i-o!! One more time.... Posted by Onos| 18.11.2006 01:10

emj  Villager

# 3 You do not qualify because you do not have a basic understanding of the problems at stake in Nigeria as displayed by your desire to institutionalize the “worthy achievements” of the last seven and a half years. And sir, you are neither in any position to nor do you have the experience to be “reinforcing the pillars of the country’s federalism.” This is because, with the greatest respect, I do not think that you understand what all that dogon turenci means. It means that; if ever you get to be President in Democracy, you cannot have your way in for instance Bayelsa, Benue, Lagos or Katsina States. That if you want to visit any of those states and the respective elected Governors or Legislators wish, they may properly ignore you and not have to spread out the red carpet you have come to demand as a dictator and that would be exercising their states rights. I do not think Alhaji, that Marriam would like that Kai Oga Ula.........:biggrin: just tell me say na yoke u dey yoke with ogagun Ibb.......na how u go just talk gbam like dat say the real and only genius for Nizeria no qualify?.....haba mallam, no be hin bin introduce SAP?.....did he or didn't he adjust us all structurally? Was it not during his time able to fino' si to cause am for Gulf war:eek: , of which Nizeria benefited from the Wind fall that was later "GONE WITH THE WIND", by Swiss Air to Swiss land:eek: :eek: UP IBB ojare.....ONOS i dey here ojiea make we begin marchini....wey the 200million man march feople?IBB for life.......ewu nizerians, if dem no come out to support alejo pataki, we go send dem all to ITAOKO:evil: where crocs go deal with all these irredentist dem..........Ula Lisa take ya time ooo:cool: Posted by emj| 18.11.2006 01:31

nallanah  Villager

# 4 Mr Ula-Lisa, I think you have spoken for a lot of well meaning Nigerians, myself included. The truth of the matter is, until WE the people take our destiny into our own hands, Nigeria will remain a HUGE joke!! "God helps those who helps themselves"!!! Let IBB and his ilk, not attemp to insult our collective intelligence, I think we need to remind him once again as WE all did in 1993.........who really is in charge of Nigeria!!...the people!! Posted by nallanah| 18.11.2006 02:01

I Love Nigeria  Villager

# 5 Eric Terfa Ula-Lisa Esq wrote: A search for “new leadership” cannot by any stretch of the imagination include you, Ibrahim. You are a dirty piece of our past nightmare we would rather wake out of and promptly forget . Howbeit, a leader is someone who is taking his people somewhere. I do not even think you know where you are going, alone. Then again, you mention rights under the constitution. Walahi talahi, Mallam, I do not believe it! This is because that same constitution that you invoke to give you rights to contest, has also provided for the right to life, right to freedom from arrest, right to freedom of opinion and of the press that you so denied the Nigerian people for eight solid years when you reigned as the Dictator-in-Chief. Mr. Eric Terfa Ula-Lisa, that was so beautifully rendered! Posted by I Love Nigeria| 18.11.2006 12:20

Abraxas  Villager

# 6 Hi, folks! Distiguished Ladies and Distinguished Gentlemen of our beloved Village, In line with the earlier affirmation and endorsement of Villager Onos, I, Don Juan Carlos ABRAXAS (III), a patriotic indigene of this Village, effective immediately, do hereby also openly declare my unabashed support for General Ibrahim Gbadamosi Babangida's presidency in 2007 too. Please General Gbadamosi Babangida, we, your loyal arsehole lickers, humble official praise-singers, loyal sycophants, and hard-core ego massagers, are begging you, n'tori Olorun, in the name of Allah, not to be swayed by the numerous malicious articles written about you, especially in the Nigeria Village Square, condemning and maligning you, since you declared your presidential candidacy. Walahi talahi, their evil machinations will not work. They will never succeed! Nothing will stop you from coming back to rule Nigeria in 2007! Again, we beg you, in the name of Allah, do not feel intimidated with all these watery insults. Do not be pushed by them to withdraw your candidacy. We, the loyal sycophantic youths and elders of Nigeria are fully behind you till the very end. Insha Allah! If you truly feel like me, if you really want IBB to come back, if you strongly belive IBB is the messiah that Nigeria needs urgently, and if you believe in the sweetness of egunje, then please sing JOYFULLY along with me: Many leaders, as you see dem Na different disguise dem dey-o Animals in human skin. Animal 'e wear agbada Animal 'e put-u suit-u Animal 'e put-u tie-o .... Muchas gracias. Don Juan Carlos ABRAXAS (III) Posted by Abraxas| 18.11.2006 13:09

Fjord  Villager

# 7 Ula-lisa, brilliantly rendered, and in a language even Ibrahim should understand. . Posted by Fjord| 18.11.2006 13:12

MrOneNaija  Villager

# 8 Terfa, An eloquent denunciation of the Babangida fraud! The part on the so-called technocrats of the lawless Obasanjo kleptocracy notwithstanding, I consider this one of the best commentaries you've authored so far. More grease...! Posted by MrOneNaija| 19.11.2006 09:17

Ayo Onatola  JJC

# 9 I wish to send in a rejoinder to the series received on the above subject; although, I am more comfortable captioning my write-up as "BABANGIDA’S CANDIDACY: A RE-INCARNATION OF JUNE 12 ANNULMENT" My attention has been drawn to the report titled “2007: Babangida woos senators” from ISMAIL OMIPIDAN, Abuja correspondent and published online in THE SUN, Thursday, November 16, 2006. The self-styled former military President for 8 years who frustrated the hope of Nigerian electorates to embrace another promising era of democracy was shown in a picture adorned in his Green-White-Green Babanriga and head gear to match. What is Babangida up to, by writing a letter to “principal officers of the Senate, as well as senators, intimating them of his intention to succeed President Olusegun Obasanjo, even as he declared that relevant experience and tested patriotic commitment to the cause of Nigeria are his credentials?” I beg your pardon, from precedence and posterity, what is meant by patriotism and credentialing when we are talking of a personality as Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (rtd)? Are the National Assemblymen to determine for the entire nation who becomes next President? Did he intend to intimidate those distinguished lawmakers? Never shall his machinations prosper this time around. Have we forgotten so soon the different manners through which the lives of several promising middle career military personnel were wasted during IBB’s regime? Is this not the same man that threw the concerted efforts of Nigerian democrats into the bin through his corny proscription of 23 political Associations? Is this not the same IBB that clandestinely imposed 2 political parties (SDP and NRC) on Nigerians? Have we forgotten his devilish annulment of results of June 12 Presidential Election that was adjudged freest and fairest in the history of political transition in Nigeria on 23 June, 1993? The man played on the intelligence of all Nigerians through his declaration of “stepping-aside” at his pull-off from the Military on 26 August 1992. He christened himself “Evil-genius” on his personal assessment of his wit. He is popularly referred to also as “Maradona”, being a master dribbler – someone that you hardly can predict. He was the man that institutionalized corruption in Nigerian system, the epidemic that is still being battled against by the present administration. At the time of death of the former military junta Gen. Abacha (deaf and dumb Head of State), IBB was the Kingmaker on the succession game that ensued as he nominated Gen. Abdulsalaam Abubakar in place of Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Useni. He was also a fore-runner in the succession plan that gave the Presidential ticket on the Platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to General Obasanjo (rtd.) in 1999. This time around, the man is trying to play God through his second coming as Nigeria’s President. God forbid! As the race to the 2007 presidential elections hots up, the former military president and an aspirant on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), should be prepare for the greatest calamity that he can best imagine as a boomerang of his suicidal decision of the June 12 1993 annulment of Presidential election result. Nigeria has never remained the same since then. As atonement for peace, his present ambition will surely pave way for a re-incarnation of that “Annulment Saga”. This is never a curse but sheer ‘Nemesis’. IBB has seen himself as being above the law and above everybody in Nigeria. He shunned the invitation of Nigerians to him to appear at the Oputa Panel in 2000 and without remorse, he is not ashamed to put himself forth to seek the mandate of the Nigerian electorates again. Fellow Nigerians, for the betterment of our future and those of generations to come, let us be UNITED in our opposition of the candidacy of an “Evil –genius”. Let us tell this greedy and stylishly wicked personality that Nigeria is on the path of re-birth and its Presidency is not for sale any longer. We cannot tolerate the guts of such misfits and cabals that his personality represents at the helm of our political affairs in the coming dispensation. That is not to shun the collection of ill-gotten wealth that the man will lavish to get cheap votes. All we need is to prevent the man from getting the Party nomination as its flagbearer. His candidacy is a re-incarnation of a previous annulment of Presidential Election in the land hence needs be annulled before going too far also, as we do not deserve to learn from his kind of “wealth of experience”. *Ayo Onatola hails from Ikenne and currently resides in the United Kingdom. Posted by Ayo Onatola| 19.11.2006 09:27

Son of the Delta  Villager

# 10 It will be nice to see Obasanjo and IBB destroy one another while the masses seat back and watch them. Posted by Son of the Delta| 20.11.2006 08:16

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