IBB’s Desperate Moves   

Published on September 6, 2010 by TheNEWS   ·   1 Comment

Ihave not stopped wondering why Babaginda wants to come back as the president of Nigeria. He  had eight years to contribute his quota to the development of the country and we all saw  what he did: he could not deliver (‘IBB’s Desperate Moves,’ TheNEWS, 30 August 2010  edition). Eight years is a very long time to rule a nation, more than enough time to make  errors and correct them. So, why is he now bent on coming back?
Muhammed Bello,
Jebba.

To manage the affairs of this country we certainly do not need people like IBB. He was there  for all of eight years and only succeeded in establishing the settlement culture and  plunging the country into darkness by annulling the June 12 election. Somebody should please  tell the desperate general the country needs younger and more dynamic people; men and women  who can make the difference in our political landscape. To continue to allow spent people,  be they retired generals or not, to keep rotating themselves as our president is a  ridiculous and shameful development. They should be told the country will be better off  without them.
Abdulmumini Jimoh,
Kano.

Nigeria is a free country, and that means anybody––including Babangida––is free to vie for  any post. It is now left for discerning voters to vote for whoever they want. Nonetheless,  it is a shame that after all he did, especially cancelling the 1993 Presidential elections,  Babangida does not see anything wrong in presenting himself to be voted for. Could it be he  has no shame, or that he sees his fellow Nigerians as fools?
Bimbo Olatunbosun,
Ibadan.

Former President Babangida is indeed an ‘evil genius’. He has already started manipulating  his way for recognition to be given to his bid to contest in the 2011 election. To this end,  he has started implanting himself into the hearts of media moguls. He knows that once he  buys the media half of his battle to be at the helms would have been won. But how is he  going to convince the average Nigerian from the South-West, who wants Goodluck Jonathan to  run as presidential flagbearer of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in particular, and  Nigerians in general, to vote for him, considering the way he anulled the 1993 general  elections.
Bisi Olatunji,
Akure.

What could be pushing Babangida to be seeking to rule this country again? Does he believe  Nigerians have a short memory? That we cannot remember how he pushed the country into  turmoil when he annulled the 1993 general elections? He is currently claiming that his  period as the number one citizen of this country was not as bad as those of his successors,  economically. Notwithstanding, his was notorious for blood letting, emergence of overnight  millionaires and then the sledge hammer, the annulment. Thus, considering the dangerous  roads he led this country through, he ought not to raise his voice in public not to talk of  wishing to rule the country again.
Ojo Ipinlaiye,
Ilorin.

What did Babangida forget in Aso Rock that he wants to go and pick? Come to think of it, he  is not the only one. General Buhari and others are there. But why are these generals who  once ruled us by force now taking us for granted. Is it because they have so much money to  throw around? Or do they believe the country cannot survive without them? Somebody should  tell them that the country is bigger than them, that should they die today, the country will  continue to exist; even fare better. They should be told that the country is full of able  minds that have much to offer in terms of good leadership.
Pius Akpan,
Calabar.

I think the problem with Nigeria’s former military president, Gen. Babangida, which he  shares with most African leaders, is his inordinate ambition and lust for power. If not,  what does he want to prove again; after all, he was there for eight years? His move to take  part in the 2011 presidential election also shows he is a shameless person; after all he  cancelled the June 12 presidential election. Tell me, who would vote for someone who failed  to respect those who voted and those who were voted for in the 1993 general elections? I  definitely will not.
Umaru Mohammed,
Sokoto.

General Babangida has every right to contest in the 2011 presidential election. At least,  the Nigerian Constitution allows everyone that is qualified to, to contest. Yes, he erred  when he annulled the June 12 presidential election. And if he is wise he would not give  Nigerians the opportunity to pay him back in his own coin. But should he continue as I  believe he will, I advise Nigerians not to vote for him.
Emeka Okafor,
Enugu.

The move by General Babangida to once again occupy Nigeria’s Presidential Villa come 2011 is  unwelcomed. It is high time this evil genius realised he can no longer fool Nigerians. The  flourishing of corrupt practices, economic somersault and blood letting during his  eight-year rule is still very fresh on our minds, not to mention his annulment of the 1993  presidential elections.
Gbenga Omowaye,
Osogbo.

Going by the speed Babangida is putting all necessary things on ground to pursue his  presidential ambition in 2011, and how some prominent political leaders are singing his  praise, there is the possibility he might win the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primaries.  Therefore, if Nigerians want to avoid another round of misrule, they should not vote for him  should he be presented by PDP or any other party.
Ben Johnson,
Abuja.

Looking at Gen. Babangida’s decision to run in the 2011 presidential election, one can see  that he is suffering from delusion, thus behaving like most African dictators who believe  governance is their birthright. To me, the only way we can avoid having him in Aso Rock  again is by making sure he does not get to a position where he is nominated to contest for  the presidential election, especially as voting does not count in the country. Therefore,  those at the helm of affairs in the country should endeavour to nip his move in the bud  before it becomes too late. That man desperately wants to rule Nigeria again and it is only  the resolve of those at the helms and Nigerians generally that can stop him.
Efe Omonode,
Benin-City.

I cannot stop wondering why General Babangida wants to return to Aso Rock again. To me, his  ambition is an insult to the intelligence of Nigerians, considering the atrocities he  committed while he was military president. Does he believe we have forgotten so quickly how  he annulled the June 12 1993 presidential election? He should go and bury his head in the  mud.
Nuhu Musa,
Kano.

Gen. Babangida and Atiku Abubakar are birds of a feather. They don’t want to accept the fact  that they are no longer relevant in the present political dispensation. Babangida had the  opportunity to govern this country and misused it, and Abubakar misbehaved while he was  vice-president to Obasanjo. I don’t think Nigerians will give them another opportunity.
Osaze Edobor,
Benin-City.

Gen. Babangida should be given another chance to govern this country. Not only does he have  wealth of experience, Nigeria was a better country to live in when he was military  president. I do not see any reason why anybody should be against his candidacy.
Farouk Musa,
Minna.

General Babangida is a joker. Why does he want to return as President of Nigeria after all  he did while he was military president? His even coming out to announce his intention to run  goes to show he has no regard for his fellow Nigerians. The best thing for him to do is sit  back and support a candidate he knows can do well. That should be the thinking of a great  leader.
Justin Adejare,
Ikeja, Lagos.

What is IBB up to? He is not the kind of person that should be talking about contesting as  president. Nigerians have not forgotten how he annulled the June 12 1993 presidential  election. Even if he spends billions of naira, he will never get there, as we will not vote  for him.
Adama Azikwu,
Aba.

I think Babangida deserves the opportunity to right all the wrongs he made while he was  military president. Contrary to what most people believe, he did not put Nigeria in any  sorry situation; he actually empowered many young entrepreneurs who later became movers and  shakers of the Nigerian economy. People like Mike Adenuga, Aliko Dangote and others  benefited from Babangida’s development programme.
Aliyu Mohamed,
Zaria.

Babangida could not have exhausted all the billions he looted while he was a military  dictator. What exactly is he still looking for in Aso Rock? Could it be that a certain force  is pushing him to bring out the money he stashed away, so that others can get a share of it?  I sure don’t mind getting some, especially as I know no matter how much I get, it will not  induce me into voting for him.
Adams Howard-Derex,
Port-Harcourt.