An Observer’s Perspective on IBB’s Book Launch: A Moment in History

I have always maintained that if you live long enough in Nigeria, you will witness the devil being exhumed from the grave and sanitized by Nigerians. The recent book launch of former military ruler Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) provided the perfect stage for such a spectacle.

The event was attended by a host of Nigeria’s political elite, each playing their part in what felt like a surreal gathering. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo (OBJ) was there, likely taking notes for his next literary endeavor. Goodluck Jonathan (GEJ) was also present, appearing as clueless and out of place as ever. Yakubu Gowon, as usual, rambled on about trivialities, praising IBB for restoring his military rank while failing to produce his own memoir. Perhaps, like IBB, Gowon is waiting for his peers to pass away before he can rewrite history over their graves.

Then there was President Bola Tinubu, a self-proclaimed champion of democracy who now embodies tyranny, evil, and undemocratic practices. The same individuals who betrayed MKO Abiola and led him to his political crucifixion were also in attendance, flashing their decaying smiles under the bright lights. The scene was a microcosm of Nigeria’s core problem: a gathering of men who played significant roles in the nation’s downfall, yet no one had a harsh word for IBB. Over time, he has been rebranded as the ideal general, a hero and a mentor to many.

IBB, as a military leader, was a master of manipulation and deceit. He dealt with what he called “rotten idiots” parading as democrats, and the crowd before him was no stranger to such characters. This raises a critical question: How did a man who worked tirelessly to dismantle democracy suddenly become its symbol in Nigeria? Today, aspiring leaders pilgrimage to his Minna residence to seek wisdom on leadership.

The event also featured billionaires like Arthur Eze, a nuisance in Igboland, and Folorunso Alakija, who was gifted oil wells by the government. Aliko Dangote was also present, singing IBB’s praises. Not a single word was uttered about Dele Giwa, an unsung hero in a nation that thrives on forgetting its true champions. Moshood Abiola, at least, has a day named in his honor each year—a small consolation for sacrificing his life, family, and business for Nigeria. After all, IBB was his “dear friend.”

The billionaires at the event credited IBB for their success, rewarding him with a staggering 16 billion naira for his library project. It’s almost laughable. Every Nigerian dictator seems to have a library named after them. IBB, the “maker of men,” was no exception. This begs the question: When will those who benefited from Abacha’s regime speak up for him or build a library in his honor? Buhari, during his eight-year democratic dictatorship, also created his own beneficiaries. It’s only a matter of time before he receives his flowers and a library. Even Bola Tinubu, the “Emilokon,” made his own men during his tenure as Lagos State governor. We remember how he rebuilt the house of Prof. Wole Soyinka, who was allegedly too poor to do so himself. In the future, Tinubu’s beneficiaries will likely donate to his library as well.

So, where does this leave the average Nigerian? Your reward is poverty, hunger, unemployment, disease, homelessness, and the desperate urge to flee the country—only to hope for heaven afterward. The only positive takeaway from the event was IBB’s admission, for the first time, that his friend Abiola won the June 12 election. However, Humphrey Nwosu, the brave electoral umpire who defied military orders to announce most of the results, was conspicuously absent from the conversation. Nwosu, an unsung hero, was a gatecrasher in a nation that rewards mediocrity and punishes integrity. He became collateral damage in a country that thrives on unclean practices.

As IBB finally acknowledged Abiola’s victory 33 years later, I can’t help but wonder when Mahmood Yakubu, the current INEC chairman, will muster the courage to admit that he rigged the 2023 election. I’ve always said that if the devil were to appear in Nigeria, he would be celebrated. Nigeria is a crime scene, a place where evil is not only tolerated but rewarded. It is uninhabitable for decent human beings. Prolonged exposure to Nigeria’s environment can turn even a saint into a devil.

I have yet to see another African country where evil is celebrated and bad behavior is rewarded as it is in Nigeria. This is a nation that cannot be redeemed. It is populated by religious hypocrites who spend billions to pilgrimage to Mecca and Jerusalem, only to return as agents of Satan, perpetuating the ruin of their own people. IBB may be evil, but those who came after him are undiluted devils. Nigeria is a lost cause, a country where the wicked thrive and the righteous are forgotten.