Information about how former Military President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida also known as IBB made Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan to take the chance of fate to sit on Late President Yar’Adua’s seat to be able to succeed him.
The incident occurred when there was tension in the country at a time when Yar’ Adua was bed-ridden with a protracted illness before his eventual death was made public.
It took the Senator David Mark-led Senate’s invocation of the doctrine of necessity to formerly make Jonathan the President amid speculations then were rife that a powerful cabal wanted the status quo to remain.
Prior to the legislature’s intervention in the political logjam at the time, retired head of state, Babangida sent billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, on an errand, saying “Femi, advise your friend that when he gets to the Council Chambers next week for the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, he should go and sit on Yar’Adua’s chair”.
Otedola disclosed this while quoting from his forthcoming book on business lessons (scheduled for release in November) to felicitate with Babangida who turns 80 on Tuesday, August 17.
While wishing the retired general more rewarding years, the business thanked Babangida for the role he played during the uncertainty in the polity occasioned by the prolonged illness of President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2010.
After receiving IBB ’s message, Otedola said he “found that fascinating and assured him I would pass the message across. I travelled back to Abuja by road in the evening and went straight to have dinner with Dr Jonathan. I did not waste time in delivering General Babangida’s message to him.
“He nodded and asked me, ‘What do you think?’
“I laughed and said, ‘Be a man, Your Excellency. Go and sit on that chair!’
“He looked at me for some time and responded that he would think about it.
“A week later, on Tuesday, February 9, the National Assembly adopted the famous ‘Doctrine of Necessity’ to make Dr Jonathan the Acting President pending the return of President Yar’Adua from his medical leave. Behind-the-scene moves by prominent Nigerians preceded this decision. The legislative resolution was unprecedented, but the nation had been tensed up, and the fault-lines so stoked that an unusual solution was needed to address the unique situation.
“With Jonathan now legally empowered to act as President, there remained the critical optics: would he stand-in for the President confidently and authoritatively? Or would he try to maintain a subdued outlook? The following day was the FEC meeting. As Dr Jonathan entered the Council Chamber, he made to sit on the chair of the Vice President—his usual seat.
“As the protocol officer pulled out the VP’s chair, Dr Jonathan marched towards the seat reserved for the President. And he sat on it! That was the moment Dr Goodluck Jonathan took control of power. By that act, he sent a strong signal to all Nigerians that he was now in charge. The same day, Jonathan even reshuffled the cabinet.”
Read also:
“IBB’s Defence of June 12 Annulment Gets Afenifere Backlash (video)
How IBB Made Jonathan Sit on Yar’ Adua’s Seat to Succeed Him
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