IBB’s ‘imoratlise Abiola’ heresy

By Dafe Ivwurie

The dictionary defines the word heresy as unorthodox religious opinion or the holding of an unorthodox religious opinion; one that is inconsistent with and contradicts established religious teaching, especially one that is officially condemned by a religious authority.

Permit me to remove the word heresy from its original contextual habitat and place it in an environment that is also as delicate, organized and subject to a lot of human abuses like religion - democracy. The simplest definition of democracy is “the government of the people, by the people and for the people”. The setting up this government and its powers is derived from the constitution agreed upon by the people. So it irks me when men who have raped, battered, refused and rejected the thriving of democracy in the history of Nigeria come out and mouth words about democracy; words that in my own opinion amount to profanities.

Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and whatever he does or says does not excite me. But it is important that just in case there is somebody writing a script for him on national issues, the Minna-born general should consider firing the person because the fellow is a bad script writer. And if some of his recent pronouncements are a product of his thought processes, therefore his considered opinion, then he has completely lost the battle to redeem himself.

It is utter heresy, down right profane, for General Ibrahim Babangida, former military head of state, military president and democracy batterer to state that MKO Abiola should be immortalized. IBB’s statement is an insult on the sensibilities of many Nigerians who fought for civil rule and democracy and who are still alive to tell the story today. I am also sure that it will make those who died in the struggle to turn in their grave when they hear him pontificate on a matter that you do not ‘have a mouth in’.

Abiola or any other person who died or suffered while fighting for democracy to be instituted in the country, do not need the government to immortalize them; they do not need a political proclamation that only seeks to keep the like of IIB on the front pages of newspapers. Abiola is already immortalized in the hearts of members of his family, in the thousands of newspaper stories and millions of words that have been written about him and his overwhelming victory at the polls that General Ibrahim Babangida annulled to his shame.

Whatever General Babangida’s achievement as head of state for 8 years pales in comparison to the impact his annulling the June 12 1993 elections has had on the nation. I think the general should take his words back.