IBB after 32 years of annulling Chief Abiola's presidential election victory out of cowardice, finally admitted that he was wrong and took full responsibility.
Nigerians are quick to forget, and easily forgive. Many IBB's 9 years of evil reign of terror led to the untimely death of many Nigerians and ushered in the worst dictatorship in the history of our country - Abacha's reign. IBB in one sentence, annulled an election that would have made him a hero forever... Posterity will not forget IBB subverted the wishes of ordinary Nigerians because he was a coward. I will not forget though, I may forgive IBB. I voted for the first time in Nigeria in 1993. It was peaceful at my polling boot around Olopomewa Bus Stop, Eleyele Ibadan. The same was reported across the length and breadth of Nigeria... Hope was high, and IBB killed it. Then he ran away, out of fear of Abacha, and left Nigeria to Abacha's torture for another five years, until the divine took Abacha away in a miraculous way and ushered in the fourth republic. Every honor and accolade IBB should have received was lost because when the moment came, he could not stand up for what was right - he lied to his friend, the winner of the presidential election. The opportunity to come back as a civilian leader like OBJ was lost forever. "He "stepped aside" was forever.
IBB might be forgiven, but he should not be celebrated. He has not done anything that deserved being eulogized as was done at his book launch... He ruled Nigeria for 9 wasteful years that were filled with political killings, the beginning of the destruction of Nigeria's economy, and the dribbling of the Nigerians with many lies and hypobole... We remember Dele Giwa who was allegedly killed by a letter bomb (IBB claimed he knew nothing about it - another dribbling from "Maradona" of Nigeria), the Ejigbo Plane crash, the devaluation of the naira that started under him, the many ASUU strike that turned a 5-year degree program into 7 for me and many other Nigerians, the pauperization of civil servants who lost purchasing power. The devaluation of the naira started under IBB as part of the conditions for the I.M.F loan he was going to take. The disappearance of Petroleum windfall - $12 billion that could have paid off our debt and left excess to develop the country... This man was wicked to the core. He does not deserve any honor now and in his death. He was evil incarnate no. 2, after Abacha.
It is understandable that the likes of Dangote would donate billions of naira to IBB's causes. IBB made Dangote very rich. Dangote's alleged access to the exclusive rights to certain products imported into the country started under IBB. Dangote rise to a multi-billionaire status in naira started with IBB. People like Tinubu, and OBJ who were always critical of IBB's policies and victims of his cowardice should not have honored the disgraced former junta and dictator.
Tomorrow, some politicians who suffered under Abacha will gather to celebrate him too... Why do we do this and wonder why we are not developing. When we quickly forget the evil of past leaders and we celebrate them. Why are Germans not celebrating Hitler? Why are Italians not celebrating Mussolini? Because they were brutal dictators who caused the death of many and ruined the foundation on which their nations were built. IBB was a brutal dictator who allegedly roped his childhood friend, Mamman Vasta, into a coup and killed him because he was afraid he would take over the government from him. He should not be celebrated but should be shunned.
Comments
Post a Comment