IBUKUNOLUWA KING-OKUNEYE
Femi Otedola, the billionaire businessman, has congratulated ex-military president, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida on his coming 80th birthday, narrating how the former dictator asked former President Goodluck Jonathan to sit on the late ex-President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s chair during the heat of the controversies that surrounded Yar’Adua’s illness.
While wishing IBB more years, he thanked him for the role he played during the political hold caused by the prolonged sickness of Yar’Adua in 2010.
Quoting from his book on business lessons, to be launched in November, Otedola divulged that IBB had sent a message through him to Jonathan, asking the former president to sit on the empty seat of the President in the next Federal Executive Council (FEC)meeting.
Yar’Adua, during his travel abroad for treatment at the time, had failed to formally transfer power to Jonathan, who was his vice president. It led to tension across the nation due to the empty seat of power and thus resulted in public protests.
In one of the chapters, Otedola wrote on the need for entrepreneurs to get involved with political authorities. He explained that such a relationship would benefit the country, saying entrepreneurs’ outreach and dialogue with political leaders, among many positives, would ensure stability and social coherence, guaranteeing economic progress.
He wrote: “Worried by the tension and uncertainty, I decided to do something on my own. In the first week of February 2010, I went to Minna, Niger State, with Hajia Bola Shagaya, to commiserate with General Ibrahim Babangida over the death of his wife, Maryam.
‘’At his Hilltop residence, we spoke on a wide range of issues, but I told him I needed to discuss an urgent and vital issue. He took me to his study, where the two of us were alone. I told him that the state of the nation had been agitating my mind.”
Otedola said he asked Babangida: “Your Excellency, how can we get out of this logjam? The political heat is too much.
“Calm and resolute, IBB replied, 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 the President’s chair.’
‘’I 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. The fault lines were 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 was 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.”
Yar’Adua died on May 5, 2010, and Jonathan was sworn in as his replacement. He later contested and won the 2011 presidential elections and served one term in office.