Legendary Crime Correspondent, now Assistant Editor, TheCaveat.com.ng, FOLORUNSHO ATTA, narrates his experience of the men of power in the yesteryears, some of who are still alive today, including himself as a means of celebrating his old friend's today's birthday, Ibrahim Gbadamasi Babangida, IBB, popularly known as the "Evil Genius". Enjoy your Sunday reading the piece.
By FOLORUNSHO ATTA
I met Gen Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, the first time in the early 1980s. But by mid 1980s, I had become a junior friend to him and many other prominent Nigerians. Such men included the late Senator John Wash Pam, late Chief Ganiyu Fawehinmi, late Gen. Sanni Abacha, late Fela Anikulap-Kuti, his younger brother (late Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, late Dele Giwa, King Suny Ade, HRH Ado Ibrahim, Mr Kehinde Odusote, Ray Ekpu, late Dr. Doyin Abiola and a host of others too numerous to be mentioned. I met these men and women at a private hospital of late Dr Ore Falomo, I worked then. The Medical Director was a personal physician to late Chief MKO Abiola.
Let me at this point say a little about today's celebrant, IBB. He has been vilified, castigated in a bad light, disparaged, lampooned and even called a coward by many Nigerians, if not other 'crimes' he committed during his eight years rule (1985 -1993), but for the annulment of June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, won by his friend, MKO Abiola, but annulled by him. Afterall, IBB established NLNG. My cousin, several years after, was MD/CEO of NLNG for six years. This, however, did not translate to a blessing to the family as our brother could not influence any of us in the family being employed in the company as either cleaner or messenger for six years he held that position.
How can we blame IBB, or our other leaders for this? This is just one out of the many blames we put on the doorsteps of our leaders.
Yes, uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. IBB might not be an enigma to some people, but, obviously, certain programmes, projects and policies of his, while in office, were worth the efforts.
IBB was an achiever to some extent. His programmes such as National Orientation Agency (NOM), People's Bank, Better Life For Rural Women, Mass Mobilization for Self-Reliance, Social Justice, and Economic Recovery, MAMSER and Directorate For Foods and Rural Infrastructures, DFFRI were some of his laudable programmes.
However, there was a bold step initiated by IBB that did not only bring pride to Africa during his tenure that is not popular to Nigerians.
In 1986 there was the Commonwealth games in Vancover, Canada.
IBB, as the leader of the most populous nation in the Black race, led Nigeria to influence other African nations to boycott the games.
The reason for this boycott, according to IBB and others, was not unconnected with the minority rule in South Africa and the continue detention/imprisonment of Dr. Nelson Mandela.
That year Commonwealth games was an abysmal failure.
This angered Queen Elizabeth and the British Prime Minister, Margareth Thatcher. The consequence of IBB and other Africa leaders' action was the imposition of strict visa policy on citizens of the Nations that are members of the Commonwealth.
In the past, Commonwealth citizens visiting another Commonwealth nation only obtain visa at the point of entry of the nation they visited. So, irked by IBB and others decision, Queen Elizabeth 11 who was the head of the Commonwealth and Thatcher reversed that order by ensuring that commonwealth citizens obtain visas from the Embassies of the countries they are visiting in their home countries.
That harsh decision not withstanding, IBB and other African leaders did not only prove a point that the African man could no longer continue to be subservient to his colonial Lord, but that action of IBB and the rest, helped to realise majority rule in South Africa and the eventual release of Mandela, some years later through pressure by these leaders, spearheaded by IBB.
Let me avail myself the opportunity to say happy birthday to our most controversial leader I met the last time 40 years ago! Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
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