IBB, Afegbua, Buhari & 2019 Presidency: Dangerous Times ahead for Journalists!
BY Friday Olokor
Background: Less than 24 hours after former Military president, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) through his age long media officer, Kassim Afegbua, issued a statement cautioning President Muhammadu Buhari to simply complete his current tenure in 2019 and leave the way for young technology-driven Nigerians to lead the country, he has denied the statement. This denial may have prompted Friday Olokor, a journalist to put up the post hereunder on his Facebook page today, Monday, February, 5, 2018.
The Facebook post below is one of the controversial posts by my friend, Kassim Afegbua. And as I followed his posts in recent times, I know he must have read the lips of Maradona, a name for which the General is popularly known. I’m sure Fred Itua, Bright Bayo Oladeji, Emmanuel Ogbeche, could testify to this, without fear. Ex-President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida aka IBB has spoken on the 2019 Presidential Polls, advising President Muhammadu Buhari to jettison his planned reelection.
Same man, some few hours later, denied the statement saying Afegbua spoke for himself, may be after weighing the likely backlash and after pressure in line with Arewa solidarity. But I’ve known Kassim Afegbua for 20 years. Thank God, he had insisted that IBB permitted him to do so. Can a thoroughbred icon concoct a statement without authorisation from his principal?
As the political temperature of 2019 gathers steam, Nigerian Journalists should be careful with politicians. Many of us have been sacrificed by politicians in the past, while they try to protect their ATM, please some powerful forces and also due to some interests…As at the last count, the Post had 208 “likes/reactions” and 253 “comments”…Let’s watch out for the likely drama that may unfold in the days ahead…
“This rave to have a 77 year old President Buhari on the ballot for 2019 is making me ill. This illness has no cure until I am told it is all a lie. It pinches my inner soul. Please, in this 21st century Nigeria, a 77 year old should not be an attraction, i plead with patriotism.” – Kassim Afegbua, January 6, 2018.
