Obasanjo, a devil incarnate – CAN • IBB’s ambition, insult to Nigerians, say Bishops
Angry clerics have nothing but harsh words for both former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former military President Ibrahim Babangida over matters Nigeriana, a country they said the two men have misruled with impunity.
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The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) labeled Obasanjo “a Devil incarnate,” for boasting in Washington last week that “not even Jesus Christ can organise acceptable and credible election in Nigeria.”
Babangida came up for blisters from Methodist Bishops for audaciously beating his chest that he wants to rule the country again, despite annulling the freest ballot it ever held on June 12, 1993.
They said it is “an insult to Nigerians.”
The CAN reacted in Kaduna on Sunday that Obasanjo’s mockery of the power of the righteousness of Jesus Christ is “a childish tantrum” unbecoming of a man God gave the opportunity to reform Nigeria for good but left it worse than he met it.
CAN Northern Publicity Secretary, John Hayab, said Obasanjo’s antecedents proved that he is an enemy of Christianity and has never been a true Christian.
He said other citizens, particularly Christians, should reflect on his actions when he was in power, citing the negative politics and political crisis the country went through during his administration.
He added that the problems of Nigeria partly result from his bad governance and undemocratic practices.
“This is totally a blasphemy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by a person whom God had on several occasions delivered from the valley of the shadow of death, as he (Obasanjo) stated in his inauguration speech on May 29, 1999,” Hayab fired off.
“Obasanjo must know that Jesus Christ has the power to save and deliver people from sin and condemnation, and He is still saving many in Nigeria today – and it is the prayers of those who have been saved by Jesus Christ that is keeping Nigeria moving from the clutches of bad leaders like him.
“How much more can Jesus Christ not conduct a mere Nigeria’s election?
“Where did Obasanjo keep the Biblical injunctions where Christians are taught to act justly, to love mercy, and work humbly with their God?
“We are not surprised because this goes to show us the genuineness of his ‘born again’ status which he is claiming.
“But we are deeply surprised by this highest degree of mockery of the efficacy of our faith by a man of his standing who, on many occasions, professed the power of God.
“By this we advise that his resident Pastor needs to counsel, pray, and put him in a deliverance class because it is an outright deviation of religion and the sacredness of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
Hayab recalled Obasanjo’s confrontation with the Plateau State CAN while in office.
“He did the same when he, out of pride and power intoxication, threw abuses at the CAN leadership in Jos. Now that he is out of power, it is Jesus Christ. So you can see how deep he has derailed, and in dire need of deliverance before the consequences of his actions and comments bring a curse to our dear nation.”
On Monday, also in Kaduna, Methodist Bishops kicked against the bid by Babangida to run for the Villa next year, wondering how he can dream of participating in a democratic process he does not believe in.
The Primate of Methodist Church Nigeria, Sunday Ola Makinde, said after a meeting of the Bishops Council that Babangida’s quest insults the sensibility of his fellow country men and women.
“The annulment of June 12, 1993 election led to the death and misery of millions of Nigerians, and it was during IBB’s tenure that the level of corruption was raised to the point which almost sank the country,” Makinde lamented.
He recounted that when Nigerians voted for President in 1993 (a ballot won by Moshood Abiola) they never considered the religious background of Abiola and his running mate, Baba Gana Kingibe – both Muslims.
Since both Christianity and Islam stress justice, Makinde said, the country’s leaders could belong to either religion, but regretted that Babangida has no regard for justice since he did not value the election that produced the Muslim/Muslim ticket of Abiola and Kingibe.
“IBB has a lot of things to explain to Nigerians on June 12, because we don’t want somebody that will come and annul election again. We have had enough of religious crisis in the country, we are talking about justice and righteousness. Our stand has nothing to do with religious coloration.
“We all voted for Abiola, a Muslim and Kingibe, his running mate, also a Muslim, so justice must be done for the June 12 election annulment. Our stand is that IBB should explain his role in June 12 because we don’t want a religious bigot as a leader in the next general election.”
Makinde’s remarks came four days after a similar outrage last Thursday in Benin, where some South West political personalities boycotted the launch of the “One Man One Vote” rally sponsored by Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, because of Babangida’s presence.
There, in person, Babangida had to endure blistering criticism, both for canceling the ballot 17 years ago, and for daring to seek public mandate to preside over the affairs of Nigeria again, in spite of it.
Speakers at the rally took swipes at him, kick started by former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President now Secretary General of Organisation of Africa Trade Union, Hassan Sumonu, who urged Nigerians to never again allow any free and fair election to be annulled.
He said Babangida, “who annulled the June 12, 1993 election, is the cause of the problem Nigeria is passing through today.”
Human rights lawyer, Festus Keyamo, insisted that it is only one man, one vote that can ensure a corrupt-free government that would deliver on electoral promises and be accountable to the people.
“That is why we protest the presence of Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida who annulled the June 12 election,” he shouted.
Campaign for Democracy (CD) President, Joe Okei-Odumakin, equally drove home the message when she said Nigerians need a public apology for the annulment of the 1993 Presidential election.
“We need to know why we lost the man and the mandate of June 12. We need to know why the freest and fairest election was annulled,” she insisted.
However, Babangida told reporters at the Benin Airport on his way out that the speakers were entitled to their rights.
The beauty of democracy is that you agree to disagree, he added.
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