IBB and Younger Generation Nigerians (This Day Newspapers 04-19-2010)

I have been following the reports, comments and media jamborees of former military president Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. I have noted a familiar pattern in all the news and reports about his intention to rule Nigeria again. In spite of all the opposition to his emergence, IBB is poised at forcing his way through to the ballot box.
We have gone this path before, IBB and his ambition is not new to most of us. When Olusegun Obasanjo became President in 1999, close watchers of IBB knew that he would one day want to try his luck as well. We are all aware of the attrocities of Obasanjo's government between 1977-1979, and how it was possible for him to still come back to rule because of the desperate nature of the political situation in 1999. The similarity of that time and what we have now is so compelling that an IBB would want to cash on it to the detriment of the peace and unity of this nation.
It would be recalled IBB ruled Nigeria between 1985 to 1993 following a military coup. He went ahead to kill his childhood friend and a very fine soldier Gen Mammna Vatsa in a fanthom coup in 1987, killed foremost journalist Dele Giwa in 1989, and in 1990 killed major Gideon Orkar in an attempted coup. In 1992, IBB eliminated our brightest set of young military officers in a planned and executed plane crash in Ojibo Lagos. Need I say more for Nigerians to understand the monster that wants to rule us again. As a young undergraduate in June 12, 1993, I was among the over 50 million Nigerians who filled out to cast our votes, too eager to end IBB misrule, in an election that was declared as the freest and fairest in the history of our nation. Yet the result of that election was canceled by IBB in his plot to prolong his misrule. This caused untold hardship to most Nigerians and invariably robbed Nigeria of her best opportunity of moving forward as a nation. The death of MKO Abiola, (the undeclared winner of that election) in Prison, the death of Gen Shehu Musa yar'Adua, and Mrs Kudirat Abiola, can all be traced to IBB. What about the countless innocent civilians who died during June 12 struggles of 1993. All these deaths are traceable to IBB misrule.
At 70 years of age, IBB should be retiring from politics and business, and be nursing his shame. He is merely capitalizing on Obasanjo's failed government to try to make Nigerians believe he too need a second chance. The answer to that is: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Period!
Now, come to think of it, we seem to be recycling the old order in Nigeria which is one of the bane of our progress as a nation. Nigeria is a country that can boost of the brightest minds in the world, yet we keep getting the worst kinds of leaders. The reason for this is not far-fetched. Our young people have sold their right to good governance to these old fools. So long as the young keep quiet these evil will persist. Its high time Nigerian youth rose up to oppose these evil men. We need to mobilize to say NO to another IBB in our national terrain. This country belong to us, and we wont let them destroy it for us. IBB is busy now trying to rule so that he would position his children to be our lords after him. See also the likes of Iyabo Obasanjo, Sarakis, Anenihs etc. We have had enough of these men, and we sure need a change now.
Nigeria still have great young mind like Rotimi Amaechi, Sullivan Chime, Fashola etc.  Nigerian youth need to rise up and encourage the likes of Prof Pat Utomi, an accomplished young Nigerian who have excelled in politics, academics and business; Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, a world class anti-corruption agent etc, to run for election in 2011.
The future of this nation lies in our hands. We need to act together to Stop IBB Now!
Sign up to Save Nigeria Group and Stop IBB Now Project.

God bless Nigeria