Mohammed, first son of the late legal luminary, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), on Tuesday said only voters could stop former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.), from realising his presidential ambition.
Babangida had signified his intention to contest the 2011 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
But Fawehinmi noted that the job of stopping Babangida from realising his ambition rested with the voters.The son of the legal icon added that the voters must ensure that their votes were not tampered or rigged by greedy politicians associated with the retired general.
He said, “The same Babangida, who ruled the country between 1985 and 1993, when Nigeria’s economy nosedived, the suffering of the masses was on the up rise and there was total insecurity in the country during his tenure now wants to return to power.
“Late Gani Fawehinmi, Dele Giwa and Chief Moshood Abiola all have one thing in common-They all encountered the military dictator, General Babangida, and they all died uncomfortable and painful deaths.”
“As the constitution ably states: ‘Sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria’, who constitute the electorate who have the power to vote and the power not to allow Babangida to return.”
In another development, the Yoruba Council of Elders on Tuesday said it was not represented at Babangida’s declaration of intention to contest the 2011 presidential election.
The group said it remained non-partisan, saying it would be contrary to its values for it to be seen to identify with a particular candidate.
Secretary-General of the YCE, Chief Idowu Sofola (SAN), stated this in a statement made available to our correspondent.
He said the organisation was disturbed by the report of a national daily (not The PUNCH) that it was duly represented at Babangida’s declaration.
The organisation said the report was ‘disturbing and embarrassing.’
The statement reads in part, “We wish to state categorically that the report is totally false and misleading. We the Yoruba Council of Elders will not allow our august body to be mired in thick politicking because we are well aware of the backlash of such an ill-advised move.”
“A time such as this needs hoary heads. Hoary heads as of necessity must be able to speak the truth and tear the web of deceit. Identifying with a particular candidate would rob us of that privilege. Sentimental churnings will reign supreme instead of principled statements.”
Wishing all presidential aspirants well in their quest, the YCE added, “We would also like to use this medium to advise them that they should play according to the rules of the game. Ambition is good and could be a ladder to greater things but overweening ambition destroys much good.”
Source: http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2010092243220
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