Treachery, back stabbing and betrayal are common trade marks among the political class in Nigeria. In fact, it’s a way of life, looking at the trajectory of those who governed the country in the past, and even to the present day. The leaders are not bothered about what the people say once their eyes are fixed on grabbing power. Often, it is a do or die contest, according to one of the past Nigerian leaders. The Nigerian political terrain is dotted with these kinds of tales, regrettably.
That is why the political leaders are ready to do anything to either remain or consolidate themselves in power. The good thing with our own political environment is that, the atrocities of the political leaders are forgotten once they bow out of office. Many of them today are celebrated as statesmen while those they lord it over, the society in general, do not have anything concrete to show for it, in terms of their well-being. The public launch recently of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida’s memoir in which he told a story why the June 12 general election won by Chief MKO Abiola, was annulled, has continued to elicit commentaries from different segments of the society.
For some, history has already taken care of what happened during the period and any attempt to re-write it is not necessary. Others believe it is good that the principal actor has spoken, but many of the people IBB, as the former military leader is called, spoke about in his book are no more alive to speak for themselves. Things went awry in the country shortly after the June 12 polls was truncated. The aftermath threw up leaders who had no respect for free society and human dignity. It became the darkest days in the history of Nigeria when the dramatis personae behind the realisation of June 12 went into self-exile for fear of being killed or hunted down, clamped in prison for criticising the military government.
IBB’s admittance of his error in the June 12 saga is also an act of bravery, at least, for letting Nigerians know his own side of the story which he kept close to his chest until now. That lives were lost, and the country plunged into crisis, and setting back the hand of the clock towards an enduring democratic governance, again, is not in the best interest of anyone, including IBB himself. The mistakes of both the past and present leaders can only be corrected when Nigerians demand for a future built on the principles of truth, Justice and fair play. Only then, can the country begin to heal from the wounds of the past and then build a nation worthy of the sacrifices of our heroes past.
The dust of 2027 is gradually gathering, with political gladiators strategising and plotting how to position themselves to grab power . This is the time to shake off the moral bankruptcy that characterises Nigeria’s ruling class; a few persons that prioritise power and privilege over justice and accountability. The IBB memoir, whichever way the segments of the society see it, carries one message, which is; you can only run but you cannot hide forever.
This is a lesson for today’s leaders to do the right thing when time and opportunity beckons. The former military helmsman, popularly nicknamed Maradona, may have been celebrated by the political class, but the truth is that his role in June 12 remains ever green in the minds of the citizenry who till date believe he annulled the election widely regarded as the freest and fairest in the history of Nigeria’s elections.
