As the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Board of Trustees, led by Chief Anthony Anenih, visits the North Central Zone, a zone which plays host to former military president, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, there are speculations that the man who once referred to himself as the evil genius may make a public appearance. Vanguard was hinted that a possibility exists for the former military strongman to make an appearance. But even in the face of the veiled attempt to find a way for Babangida to publicly declare his ambition, this report explains why the man fondly referred to as IBB is still dragging his feet.
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida may not be a magician. However, he knows the implication of bringing daylight into the myth woven around his person.
And because of this, he continues to keep Nigerians guessing as to what his next political move would be.
However, even as Babangida continues to play yo-yo with the thinking of Nigerians regarding his presidential aspiration, Vanguard can authoritatively confirm, at least based on information provided by sources close to the former military ruler, that if at the end of the day he chooses not to go for the presidential contest, or is forced not to seek the office, or is persuaded not to contest, his ambition would have been partly achieved if he succeeds in stopping Vice President Atiku Abubakar from getting the presidency come 2007.
Today, however, as preparations reach a crescendo regarding the North Central Zone PDP Board of Trustees rally, speculations are rife that Babangida may make a grand appearance. The ecstacy regarding such an appearance should not be lost. First, there are high wire speculations that Babangida is a card-carrying member of the PDP. Second, there are also strong insinuations that Obasanjo may settle for Babngida as his replacement judging from what happened on the eve of the national convention of the ruling PDP last year, a time when Abubakar publicly said he was not sure whether or not he would support his boss for the presidential ticket of the party. Add to this the fact that between Obasanjo and Babangida, there is the comraderie which the military, specifically the army had built in both soldiers.
For Babangida, we see a man who was able to, in spite of the tragedy of annulling the June 12, 1993 presidential elections, cause a meeting point for both the conservatives and the progressives in his dealings within the Nigerian polity (and he still sustains it). For onlookers, this has been a very strong point for him and which explains why even 11 years after stepping aside, his army of loyalists remain.
Although both Abubakar and Babangida have consistently sized each other up on a number of occasions, the fact that President Olusegun Obasanjo would have a say in whoever becomes the president in 2007, makes the contest all the more interesting.
For instance, Obasanjo was quoted as once lamenting that his major concern is the calibre and nature of those he would be handing over to.
That concern by Obasanjo may not be restricted to Babangida or Abubakar alone. It has nothing to do with their person but with the fact that he would rather have a politician who would carry on the torch of his reformist agenda. For Obasanjo, whatever he is doing today would amount to nothingness should it not get the complement of continuity. Which explains why between Babngida and Abubakar, there are those who would swear that it is the one that can best carry on while others would claim, with ferocious insistence, that it is the other that would best serve Obasanjo and the nation’s interest.
For the North Central Zone rally, if Babangida makes an appearance, he would have finally succeeded in making the declaration which many had expected from him and with that would come a more energised contest. Although Obasanjo had admonished politicians not to campaign for the 2007 contest, he may have himself given up with the statement he made in Osun State last weekend, declaring that his party would capture Lagos State in 2007.
It was Philip Massinger, 1583-1640, in The Bashful Lover, who pointed out that ambition which is seen and described as a vice for a private man is, in a prince, regarded as virtuous. When Obasanjo made the declaration, nobody frowned except, of course, the Lagos State Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has demonstrated that in the face of all odds, he himself remains a critical odd — see story on Page 17.
The zonal rallies which is on its last leg was initiated by Anthony Anenih upon resumption as Board of Trustees Chairman of the PDP. According to Anenih, “the rally was instituted with a view to ensuring that party members are once again brought back on the track of party discipline and restraint, two virtues which represent the hallmarks of true democracy”.
So far, the gospel according to Anenih seems to be making sense to the members and leaders of the party. Vanguard learnt that governors and party leaders have been invited for the rally. The importance being attached to this weekend’s rally in Nassarawa State would come full cycle should Babangida make a public appearance at a PDP function. Even if he does not make any comment, his appearance alone would be a statement.
For IBB, what he can't get, he won't pursue.
