Billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, has applauded former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, for the role he played during the political logjam caused by the prolonged sickness of President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2010.
Felicitating with the former military president, also known as IBB, who marks his 80th birthday last Tuesday, Otedola, in his forthcoming book on business lessons, scheduled for release in November, revealed how IBB sent him to tell then former vice president, Goodluck Jonathan, to sit on the empty seat of then president in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
With Yar’Adua failing to formally transfer power to his deputy when he was flown abroad for medical treatment, there was tension across the nation as a result of the power vacuum, which led to public protests.
Writing on the need for entrepreneurs to engage with political authorities in one of the chapters, Otedola maintains that such a relationship will benefit the country.
“Entrepreneurs’ outreach and dialogue with political leaders, among many positives, will ensure stability and social coherence, guaranteeing economic progress.
“Worried by the tension and uncertainty, I decided to do something on my own,” he wrote.
“In the first week of February 2010, I went to Minna, Niger State, along with Hajia Bola Shagaya, to commiserate with General 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 the state of the nation had been agitating my mind.
“I asked Babangida how can we get out of this logjam that the political heat is too much.”
“Calm and resolute, IBB replied: ‘Femi, advise your friend that when he gets to the council chambers next week for the 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 Jonathan. I did not waste time in delivering 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 Jonathan acting president pending the return of 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 Jonathan entered the council chamber, he made to sit on the chair of the vice president, his usual seat. As the protocol officer pulled out the chair, Jonathan marched towards the seat reserved for the president. And he sat on it.
“That was the moment 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, going on to win the 2011 presidential elections and serving one term in office.
In the book, Otedola said entrepreneurs must engage with political authorities because it is only when there is peace that the economy can boom.