IBB says goodbye to politics

Former military president, Ibrahim Babangida says he will never seek any elective office in the country again.

Mr. Babangida, who was speaking in his capacity as the Chairman of the annual trust dialogue hosted by Media Trust Ltd at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, surprised the audience when he said, “I feel am the one man in African politics that has received the most bashing by the media”.

“Today I have news for the Nigeria media, although I will still be around to give advice to upcoming politicians, I will not seek re-election for any elective office again. Babangida will not be around for you to kick around anymore”the former Head of State said, borrowing the words of former American President Richard Nixon.

Also speaking,Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, lambasted the media for sacrificing content for advertisement without recourse to the feelings and expectations of their readers.

Mr. Oshiomhole decried the situation where newspapers sell their front pages just to make money.

“I think it is unfair when front pages of newspapers are taken over by advertorials, I think it means the publishers’ profit motive has become superior to the need to adequately inform, which is the basic job of a media outfit,” he said.

The governor advised the media to always consider national interest in their reportage.

“I think when national interest is at stake; the media must pause and think who will benefit with the headline they are going to use.”

Media Trusthad last night awarded its annual Daily Trust African of the year award to a renowned jurist from the Republic of Niger, FatimataSalifouBazeye.

The citation for the award, which was read by South African professor of Political Science,TandekaNkiwane, revealed that every year, the advisory board of the Daily Trust African of the year looks for Africans who have made outstanding contributions to the struggle for the rule of law and democracy in Africa. She said Mrs. Bazuye was chosen for the 2011 award because of her outstanding contribution as an individual and also for her contribution to the rule of law in Africa.

“Her court rulings rejected a proposal to amend the constitution and extend the rule of President MahamadouTandjawho was then sacked in 2009 and dissolved the Constitutional Court as well as the National Assembly. Following the coup of 2010, she was restored as head of the Consultative Assembly, which guided Niger Republic back to democratic rule,”Ms. Nkiwane said.

Ms. Nkiwane also said FatimataBazeye “did not seek to be a hero. She did not stand before a tank.  She only did her job and was loyal to the constitution. For that she paid a personal price, but she also changed the course of history.”

In her short acceptance speech, Mrs. Bazeye, who spoke in French, said “the quest for justice and affirmation of truth is a challenge in many ways. Where constitutional and electoral matters are concerned, the lawyer is faced with such a challenge on a daily basis.”

The eminent jurist also said a judge or lawyer’s duty is “to be a loyal servant of his society and country and champion of democracy and rule of law.”