2019: IBB May Likely ‘Overthrow’ Buhari Govt Again

Indications are beginning to show that former military head of State, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (rtd) may stage a ‘civilian coup’ in the country come 2019.

The 1985 palace coup in which Babangida overthrew General Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria current President, under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) was said to be successful because the latter decided to avoid bloodshed.

That is said to be the most important reason he overthrew the administration of Buhari. In one of the interview he granted to the press, IBB was quoted to have told those who wish to listen that a coup or change comes about if there is frustration in the society.

According to him, there was frustration in the society between 1984 to 1985, as a result the ground was fertile for a coup.That was how IBB saved Nigeria from the economic hardship occasioned by Buhari military administration.

Fast forward to 2015 general election which brought Buhari back to power as president under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with the mantra of “Change.”

Few months after he became Nigeria’s President, Buhari brought economic recession upon us. Regrettably, while the recession lasted, about three million Nigerians lost their jobs, several industries were shutdown, and also relocated to neighboring countries.

Today Nigeria main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which unfortunately lost power to President Buhari in 2015 are working seriously hard to unseat the incumbent president come 2019.

It could be recall that around May 2017, the three military musketeers who were former Head of State, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen Ibrahim Babangida and Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar respectively all meet at the uphill mansion of IBB in Minna, Niger State which was said to have lasted for about three hours.

That meeting was not a coincident. During the meeting, the three leaders were said to have discussed extensively on the problem confronting the country, and agreed to speak out at the appropriate time on the issue. But what are the problems conforting the nation apart from the frustration the current government has brought upon Nigerians?

While the Generals continue to maintain their silence after that meeting, the Minna hilltop mansion of IBB who successfully overthrew Buhari has suddenly become a political mecca of some sort where gladiators, especially in the Peoples Democratic Party keep visiting.

Perhaps a political coup in civilian toga is underway, just maybe.

It is almost 24 years ago when Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida stepped aside following the political crisis that engulfed the country after the annulment of June 12 election described to be the most credible in the country. Though it is almost two and half decades since he left office, his political influence continues to grow by leaps and bounds.

Since the Buhari administration brought recession upon Nigerians, his home has been a political Mecca where former presidents, governors, National Assembly members go to seek counsel. Now that the 2019 general election is fast approaching, the home of IBB would surely and is already a beehive of political activities.

Some few days ago, the media was awash of the visit of PDP National Convention Planning Committee, with Alhaji Makarfi who is the National Caretaker Committee chairman of PDP,  the party’s Convention Planning Committee chairman, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state, Governor Wike of River state, Arc. Darius Ishaku Governor of Taraba state, among others leading the way to the Hilltop mansion. So what could be the political undertones of this meeting?

A day after, former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who just decamped from APC to PDP arrived in Minna, the Niger state capital, meet with the former Military ruler in a closed door discussion which lasted for hours. The outcome of that meeting was again wrapped.

However, a day before Atiku visited, IBB was quoted to have said: “Atiku is a Nigerian, he is allowed to go to any party and our constitution allows it, so, it is not new and there is nothing wrong for politician to move from one party to another” As if that was not enough, he equally said PDP will see one of the best convention like never before.

Today IBB seems to be the only former Head of State still standing firm with the PDP with all his heart. Perhaps IBB is hiding under PDP to produce a likable civilian general that will likely sack Buhari by 2019 to save Nigeria again. I foreseen IBB giving strong support to any PDP candidate that can unseat Buhari come 2019.

Just few days after Atiku left APC, Amaechi was quoted as follow : “We (APC) should stop castigating and blaming Jonathan Government….it is high time we (APC) face the realities of governance and know where we (APC) had gone wrong”.

I totally agree with Ameachi, indeed the present government has said it notched up power generation to 7000 megawatts. Then the rains stop, and the rivers gurgle to the lowest ebb with the sun of the dry season sweeping the land with roasting temperatures. Electric power supply crashes, long queue in patrol stations are back in major cities, food items refused to come down, the roads are not better off. Indeed frustration of Nigerians is getting high, and democratic coup is urgently needed to save Nigeria once more.

The only option is to give Amaechi’s assertion a deep thought again otherwise a frustrating situation as we are now can force IBB back and Nigerians are ready to follow a rescuer. He has done it before during the military era, perhaps the master key is still within his reach. But only time will tell!

Written by Akpodhoma Michael

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