This is not a Biography of Professor Ibrahim Iyagi or a eulogy. It is a historical overview of the series of near misses we have had in the course of our search for the best and the brightest among us as a President. Dr. Ibrahim Iyagi, if you remember him, was the Managing Director of the old Continental Merchant Bank. And he was booted out of office by the IBB regime for his unwillingness to dance to the music of the IMF. When Obasanjo became the President, he appointed him the Chairman of the newly created National Economic Intelligence Committee. Unexpectedly, when President Obasanjo succeeded in frustrating his Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar from running as a Presidential candidate on the PDP platform, I thought the best fit for the job following the manufactured disqualification of Mr. Atiku Abubakar, would be Dr. Ibrahim Ayagi. I was wrong. Baba looked elsewhere and gave the ticket to the younger brother of his Military buddy. And this is my story of the Nigerian history of frustrating its best and the brightest and settling for the average achievers.
About a month to the death of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Dan Agbese of the Newswatch Magazine, wrote, 'when eventually the sage died, he would be remembered as the best President Nigeria never had." A few weeks later, the Chief, indeed, died. And the Nkemba of Nnewi, Chief Odimegu Ojukwu, wrote, "He (Papa Awo) was the best President Nigerian never had."
During President Obasanjo's second term in office, I saw a Press Release issued by the Press Secretary to the Vice President, wherein Mr. Atiku Abubakar stated that he is in total support of the of President Olusegun Obasanjo on a certain issue, I can't remember now. Then and then, I knew all is not well with the team at Aso Rock.
There is only one source of power and one avenue to express that power in a Presidential system. The Communication Room through the Press Secretary to the President. And the Vice President remains indisputably a part and parcel of that team and a signatory to that decision before it was expressed publicly by the Press Boys.
So, for the Press Secretary to the Vice President to issue a separate Press Release after one was issued by the Aso Rock Press Office denotes one thing: All is not well at the seat of power and the Vice President was not part of or was not consulted during the deliberation on the issue under review.
At that point, I said to myself, if I am in the position to counsel the Vice President right now, I will just tell him to "stop playing smart, do not exercise power you do not have, and whatever animosity between you and the President, try and resolve it as fast as possible, because, right now, you are being benched, undermined."
A few months later, the undeclared war was now in full swing, President Obasanjo declared openly "I don't know who is going to take over from me or replace me as the President, but I know who won't." And that was when I knew that Mr. Atiku, the Vice President to President Obasanjo, will not secure the PDP Presidential ticket. And that was when my sympathy for Vice President Atiku began. Which I firmly and vehemently expressed during the 2019 Presidential election.
And as the time for the PDP Presidential Primaries draws near, Obasanjo succeeded in using El'Rufai and Nuru Ribadu to diminish the value of the Vice President candidacy and frustrated his Presidential ambition. First, they disqualified him and later un-disqualified him. When it was all over with the disqualification(s), it was too late for the Vice President to be a formidable force. And once again, another best qualified to rule failed to secure the ticket of his party he helped to build.
There is an unusual affinity or love-hate relationship between the Military Boys who fought the Civil War, especially after retirement. When push comes to shove, they will rally round each other.
When IBB and his Boys or Northern Power Brokers decided to assuage the Yorubas for frustrating the MKO's popular mandate, they went for one of their own in the West, brought him out from prison following the death of General Sani Abacha, and made him President.
Why Obasanjo? Why not the youngish techy Dr. Olu Aguloye, the Chairman of the Federal Road Safety Corps? An MIT educated, who IBB brought from the University of Ife to heard the new organization. He never did. He went for one of his own - Obasanjo.
And when it came time for Obasanjo to punish Vice President Atiku Abubakar for daring to stop his Third Term Ambition, he didn't go for the tested Economist, Dr. Ibrahim Ayagi who worked diligently with him. Baba went for the Junior brother of his buddy in the Military - Musa Yar'Adua. And he failed to recognize the virtues of the 'stallion' who worked tirelessly and a force to reckon with within the Economic Team of his administration.
*For the 1979 NPN Presidential ticket, Mallam Yusuf Maitama Sule, a Diplomat, and Mr. Adamu Ciroma, a Banker were prepared. But Alhaji Shehu Shagari who won was not prepared, all he wanted was to be a Senator.
*Also, Papa Awo and Zik were prepared. Shagari wasn't. All he wanted to be was a Senator.
*MKO Abiola was prepared. He ran and won. But was not allowed to govern.
*Mr. Olu Falae was prepared. President Obasanjo wasn't. He was in prison. They brought him out and made him Presiden.
*Mr. Atiku was prepared. Mr. Musa Yar'Adua wasn't and Goodluck Jonathan wasn't.
*Dr. Ibrahim Ayagi was prepared. Mr. Musa Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan were not.
Today, Professor Ibrahim Ayagi is no more. Like Chief Obafemi Awolowo another "Best" we never had, is gone to be with the Lord.
An honorable gentleman, renowned Banker, and a distinguished administrator per excellence has gone to be with the Lord.
He was one of the very few Nigerians I daydream about often, wishing God could find a way to make him President of this great country. I thought President Obasanjo was going to nominate him as PDP Presidential candidate when it became apparent that he was going to have his Vice President disqualified by any means necessary. I was wrong. Baba went for the near-dead junior brother of his Military buddy. And as always, Nigeria missed one of the very few religious and ethnic neutral Northerners as President.
Besides Mr. Atiku Abubakar and Professor Atehiru Jega, he was another Northerner I would have readily campaigned for as President. When the Bureau of Public Enterprise (PBE) was accused by some Northern interest groups of favoring the South in the sales of government businesses, it was this man who came out to admonish his own people, telling them openly that the North has so far acquired about 55% of the government properties sold. He was simply one of a kind. May his soul rest in peace. Amen
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