It was organized haphazardly and on short notice, the organizers say. But there is no doubt that this was a meeting of minds determined on achieving one goal: Returning former President and General Ibrahim B. Babangida (IBB) to the Nigerian presidency at Aso Rock, Abuja.
On a mild-weathered Saturday afternoon of July 24, amid the deafening noise from flying aircraft overhead, a group of Nigerians met in a house in the heart of Far Rockaway to launch the New York chapter of Project 007.
Project 007 is a grassroots movement aimed at facilitating and endorsing IBB’s presidential bid come 2007. The meeting brought together several dozens like-minded participants from across the tri-state area, but mostly from the five boroughs of New York City. Present at the meeting were members of the National Executive Council who came to the meeting to see the progress being made and to explain what IBB stands for and what his agenda is for the future of Nigeria. This is an effort to distinguish him from the multiple candidates who will most definitely be jockeying for the presidency of Aso Rock.
To hear organizers say it, this is just a political movement, not a political party. But is it going to metamorphose into a political party or affiliate itself with a political party sometime in the near future? Possibly, they say. But they are quick to add that the Nigerian presidential election is too far off, two-and-a-half years away, to even speculate on that possibility at the moment. For now, they are embarking on this initiative in order to broaden IBB's support base and make Project 007 a mouthpiece of IBB’s goals and objectives, his plans and agenda for 2007, including telling people that the General is enthusiastically gung ho about the prospect of running for office and becoming the next president of Nigeria.
Another aim of Project 007 is to encourage members to participate in the Nigerian electoral process by making use of the experiences acquired in Europe and America to influence politics back home for a positive change, while endorsing IBB’s agenda of providing jobs and health care to most Nigerians, low-cost housing units better quality of life for all Nigerians and the total eradication of hunger in Nigeria.
The launching of Project 007 is part of a trend that is spreading around the world –Europe, Canada – and to some extent the United States, where the movement is now being consolidated. The U.S. national headquarters for the project is located in Upper Montclair, N.J.
During the meeting, a roster was passed around for participants’ biographic information, which will form the basis for the selection of the leadership of the New York chapter and for contact information regarding forthcoming meetings.
For more information, go to: www. IBBFORPRESIDENT-USACANADA.com. New Yorkers may write to: IBB for President, W/B Station, Box 86, Bronx, NY 10467, or call (718) 547-6150.
