President Umar Yar’Adua has given Nigerians much cause for concern in recent weeks. For a President not on official leave, Yar’Adua’s prolonged absence, and given the shoddy job done by his minders in explaining what exactly he was doing in Saudi Arabia, gave free rein to speculation and rumours. At some point, the rumour of Yar’Adua’s death gained so much mileage as to be believed.
Naturally, in such circumstance, schemes were afoot to step into his shoes, the most potent remarkable being moves by Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, who, as the most senior Northerner in the cabinet was considered the de-facto Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan notwithstanding.
Kingibe is not new to intrigues. He was chairman of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in the aborted Third Republic, who later vied to become its presidential candidate. He lost out to Bashorun MKO Abiola, who later picked him as his Vice President. The duo won the June 12 1993 presidential election, acclaimed as Nigeria’s freest and fairest, which was, however, annulled by General Ibrahim Babangida. Kingibe will later abandon Abiola in his attempt to revalidate the electoral mandate, preferring to team up with Gen. Sani Abacha, who later incarcerated Abiola.
This time, however, Kingibe’s wooing of Emirs and top northern leaders was not as subtle as not to be recognised for what it was: treachery. But just as he was preparing for the denouement, President Yar’Adua stealthily, arrived the country.
Less than 60 hours after the President returned from his 16-day trip, ostensibly for medical treatment in Saudi Arabia, he showed he was not infirm in resolve when he sacked Kingibe as SGF and replaced him with Yayale Ahmed, erstwhile Defence Minister.
This week we present the story of Kingibe’s naked hunger for power. But then he is not alone in the desire to succeed Yar’Adua as you will find out shortly. The story is written by Senior Editor, BABAJIDE KOLADE-OTITOJU.
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