In case the reader has not deciphered it yet, this is the continuation of my preceding instalment 'Why Babangida may yet win and God help us all if he does', the earlier title being overtaken by the event of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar's adoption by the so-called Northern Political Leaders Forum, as their 'consensus' candidate.
In that previous part I made clear that the battle is principally between what President Goodluck Jonathan stands for, as against what Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) represented. I wrote and I quote, "all of these could only mean that unless something extraordinary happens in the polity between now and 2011 ... our reasonable choices are reduced to Babangida and Jonathan".
Now something extraordinary has happened. The Maradona has himself been maradona'd by Mallam Ciroma and Atiku Abubakar, and perhaps the oligarchy machine. The conquest of Ibrahim Babangida is coming from unlikely quarters. With hindsight, all that rigmarole to commit Babangida (and ostensibly the others) to abide by the decision of the NPLF, whatever the outcome, now begin to make sense. They made it a matter of honour for Babangida. It is obvious IBB never thought he could lose.
However, even if the principals change eventually, the principles of our choices in the coming 2011 elections remain.
Something definitely went wrong in Babangida's scheme to become the oligarchy's candidate for the 2011 elections but if you believe it is simply the allegedly treachery of the duo of retired General David Jemibewon and former minister Audu Ogbe, as it is being put forward in sponsored media, then you would believe anything. The best indication yet that all was (and probably still) not well in the 'consensus' camp, was the inordinate delay, with perennial postponements, in announcing their choice.
One of the abiding features of this Fulani-led oligarchy is their ability to re-strategise. Widespread opposition to Babangida's candidacy may have given the oligarchy the opportunity, as has been rumoured it is keen, to rid itself of the overbearing menace of retired generals and serving officers. There is suggestion that the oligarchy were simply telling Babangida that he (IBB) had become a tail that was starting to wag the dog. The truth will eventually come out.
If the said secrecy of the ballot is intended to confer some kind of democratic credential on the exercise, then they must think Nigerians are fools. These people were ready to shunt a distinguished soldier and statesman like retired General IBM Haruna aside unceremoniously, simply because, unlike camp-following past leaders of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) as the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi, the highly respected ex-war commander took a principled stand against zoning. Unfazed by attempts to remove him as Chairman of ACF because of this anti-zoning stance he said in an interview in October that there is no one person or one group that can say they are representing the whole of the north.
Something Extraordinary Has Happened (WBMYW-Part 2) (http://www.saharareporters.com/article/something-extraordinary-has-happened-wbmyw-part-2)