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Tag: IBB

  • Update: Jonathan visits IBB

    Update: Jonathan visits IBB

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday visited the former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida in Minna, Niger State.

    The President was accompanied by the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki; his Chief of Staff, Gen. Jones Arogbofa; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Muhammed; former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi and Senator Ahmadu Ali among other dignitaries.

    Speaking with journalists after the closed door meeting, the President said that he had to visit to the former leader since he has not seen the former President since he returned from hospital abroad few weeks back.

    He said: “First and foremost, I have to use this opportunity to appreciate our leader, President Babangida for his leadership. His commitment to ensuring that this country is united and we leave in peace.”

    “Of course, you know that this is the end of the year. Within this period, people pay visits. So I have come to visit him. You know he just came back from a hospital abroad, not too long ago. Since he came back, we have not seen. I need to see my father to know how he is feeling. I am quite pleased the way I have seen him.”

    “Of course, you all know that as a nation, we are facing challenges: security challenges all over, not just in the North. Yes, Boko Haram in the North. The South is not safe: commercial kidnapping and robbery.”

    “He is one of our experienced leaders. As somebody who is sitting where he was before, I need to see them from time to time to listen to their suggestions. That is one of the areas how we can collectively move the country forward and ensure that Nigerians live in peace.”

    “That is the key thing and I am quite pleased that we had fruitful discussion.” He added

    On his part Gen. Babangida called for support of Nigerians towards assisting the President to keep Nigeria united.

    “What I will say is simple: The President means well for this country and he is working well for this country. Anybody who means well for this country should support the President to make sure that Nigeria survives as a united country,” IBB stated

  • Jonathan visits IBB today

    Jonathan visits IBB today

    President Goodluck Jonathan is billed to pay a pivate visit to former military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida in his Minna country home today.

    Roads leading to the Uphill residence of the former Head of State have been sealed off from vehicular movement while a detachment of armed military men, Police and Department of State Security officials have since 7am been stationed in strategic positions within and around the area.

    Details later

  • FRESH, IBB and powershift

    FRESH, IBB and powershift

    glimpse of the enigmaticex-Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, on what appeared to be a wheel-chair caught my attention in the PM News of September 24, 2014 which carried a front-page picture under a story with an imposing headline; IBB advocates power shift to youths. This has been Rev. Chris Okotie’s heart cry for ages. The General, while in a conversation with a young political aspirant, was quoted as saying; “… it is your generation that should take over from ours. You people have international exposure”. Age and time truly has a way of mellowing the human species. The General, who is now in retirement from partisan politics, seems to be making targeted commentaries on issues. If only these commentaries had, while he was in power, were backed with necessary actions, Nigeria would have been a much better country that what we have now.

    But while I agree wholly that the incoming generation should begin to man the affairs of government, just as they are making bold strides in the corporate world and international frontiers, I also take the suggestion with a bit of skepticism, and here are some reasons why. One problem with actualizing this, as IBB knows all too well, is the caucus-controlled machinery of crony-politics, god-fatherism, selection of candidates, electoral manipulation and sit-tight tendencies in Nigeria. Another reason is the already tainted engagements of many of this generation in politics, especially those who are already in government circles at different levels across the nation, who refuse to challenge the odd anomalies so as not to stir the hornets’ nest and jeopardize their climb, up the political ladder.

    The result is a long tradition of ambivalence, multilateralism and non-intervention, except of course if we are the injured party. We then expect everybody to rise to our defense, but as it has become obvious; everybody’s job, is nobody’s job. This is what Fresh Democratic Party, FRESH, to which I belong, is engaged in, in trying to get the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to accept the superiority of a court judgment or follow through with their belated appeal against a court ruling which upturned its de-registration of FRESH. How is a new generation going to take over if an organization like INEC refuses to obey a court order?

    How will the youths get a chance to learn the ropes, prove themselves and do better than their predecessors, if other political instruments and avenues such as membership of new parties, like FRESH, are destroyed because they have not accomplished in their short existence, what the coxswains of our political sector spent the better part of their lives realizing? Men like Rev. Okotie are leading parties trying to avoid the corrupting influences of our political aristocrats, whose sole purpose in government is to annex wealth and conscript cronies. Brilliant strides and pockets of successes that the party has garnered over the last decade of its existence are to be wished away by INEC’s stroke of the pen. The Pastor-Politician is obviously a threat to the cabal and their goal of perpetual rulership of the country. It will be recalled that Justice Kolawole of the Federal High Court 5, Abuja Division, overturned the agency’s deregistration of the party on July 29, 2013, when he voided the section 78 (7) (ii) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (As Amended). But a year after, and just a few months to the lifting of the ban on campaigns and general elections, the agency is yet to make good its appeal which it has falsely claimed was ongoing. Now, we know why: in INEC’s view, there is really no case to contend with. The agency will maintain the status quo on the matter irrespective of the existence of an extant judgment.

    That is why it has become a matter of utmost urgency that IBB’s generation, which has been averse to superior reasoning of progressive governance and the possibility of the creation of a just society, will rethink the paradigm shift philosophy as opposed to just a power shift to clones who basically run on a similar template, but under a different nomenclature. That is why the likes of Rev. Okotie, and FRESH took the challenge to salvage the nation, and their present travail is symbolized by opposition from the ‘establishment’, as portrayed by INEC’s intransigence in the refusal to re-certify the party, after a court ordered its re-admission into the elective process.

    This generation of Nigerians have longed for, yearned for, and are impatient for better life, having seen and tasted with increasing optimism the rising economies of other climes. The social media has crimped the global village into their hearts. They seek a liberal society where the son of a labourer, who attended a public school, can aspire to any office in the land, without having to sell his soul in the process.

    This is why a paradigm shift from the status quo becomes an imperative. It promotes a sound economic landscape, where purposeful enterprise can flourish; where entrepreneurship and innovativeness have the latitude for expression and fructification, so that our nation, with all her assets, can stop drowning in the back waters of social and economic retrogression. It is interfacing the Nigerian dream with global concepts of economic soundness, where the intellectual currency of the average Nigerian can stand at par with that of their contemporaries across the globe.

    We have come of age. The continued call for zoning by the ruling parties will only dig us deeper down the pit of poverty. This form of slavery has been used to suppress the people into subsistence living which encumbers their ability to resist the elitists. So, the continuous subjugation of the masses is a do-or-die affair for them. It is an indictment on our ruling class, if after five decades; they have not impacted qualities on the coming generation to guide them in nurturing a virile nation and economy. After fifteen years of the fourth republic, how many projects that can enhance the status of the people, improve their quality of life or strengthen the nation’s economy have been executed?

    Rev. Chris Okotie is severally quoted as having said that two men have deep-rooted connections to the course of Nigeria as a united entity- ex-presidents OlusegunObasanjo and IBB, and here’s why; these two men, have been paramount at strategic times in the nation’s history. Their regimes have been characterized by strong definitive leadership, whether viewed positively or negatively. They should they had the capacity and wherewithal to alter the destiny of this nation, as they had a firm grip on the machineries of government and a following of the masses. Now, it is obvious that the vast proportions of intellectual capital which the ruling class has wasted over the last five decades cannot be quantified. If they are to present themselves as statesmen worthy of the label, then they must match their talk with visible actions. They should go beyond mere placatory and front page commentaries, and put their political machinery into action and good use by encouraging an atmosphere where their counsel will have the latitude to flourish. If the Obasanjo’s, Babangida’s, progressives and statesmen allow this steady decline of our most vital asset, then the Better life for real Nigerians we envisage will continue to be a grand illusion. Verbum serserpientis (A word is enough for the wise).

  • IBB varsity gets students’ leaders

    IBB varsity gets students’ leaders

    The Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, has inaugurated the Students Union Government (SUG) executive The event took place at the university twin lecture theatre.

    At the event the university’s Legal Adviser, Amina Ndayako, urged the officers to always abide by the rules.

    The president, Bashir Shuaibu administered the oath of office on members of the Students’ Representatives Council (SRC), a legislative arm of the union.

    Shuaibu, praised the management for conducting a credible election, calling on his fellow leaders to join him to continue the struggle for students’ welfare.

    “I salute the courage and spirit of togetherness in this very great institution and the trust the entire students have in me. Our victory was a well-deserved one. I urge all stakeholders, comrades in struggle, NASU, ASUU and SSANU to please join hands with us to fight for the rights of students,” he stated.

    The Vice Chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy VC (Administration), Dr Yakubu Auna, praised the students’ affairs division and the computer science department of the university for organising the e-voting.

    He congratulated the new executives and charged them to imbibe the spirit of transparency. He said:  “It is not always easy and convenient to be a union leader, but it is necessary to serve because, service to humanity is one of the basis of human existence. “

    The Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr John Jiya, also congratulated the new leaders and students for their peaceful conduct during and after the elections.

  • IBB okay, says aide

    IBB okay, says aide

    An aide of former military President Ibrahim Babangida said yesterday that he is fine in Germany where he is undergoing a medical check-up.
    The associate said Gen. Babangida is on a routine medical check-up as a result of his famous “Radiculopathy case”, an injury he sustained during the Biafran war for which he had a back operation in a German hospital while in office.
    The statement said: . “From time to time, IBB goes to his doctors in Germany for routine medical review, and that’s why he’s in the hospital there right now.”

  • IBB extends medical trip abroad

    IBB extends medical trip abroad

    Former military President Ibrahim Babangida on has extended his medical trip to Germany by two weeks, one of his aides said yesterday.

    Gen. Babangida who was billed to return yesterday, extended his stay by two weeks on the orders of his doctors, to enable him have enough rest, one of his aides told our reporter in Minna last night.

    The former leader left the country on September 6 accompanied by his second son, Aminu, for his routine medical checkup.

    The aide however allayed fears that the health of the former military leader is threatened.

    He said: “It is true that Oga (IBB) has postponed his return date from Germany. He was expected (yesterday) but we learnt his doctors asked him to stay behind for some observation.

    “Since he left, for a routine two weeks medical checkup we have been in regular contact with him. We speak with him everyday. He is in good frame of mind and in good health”.

    When told that the doctors might have extended IBB’s stay in because of a deteriorating condition, he said: “We are in constant touch with him. His health is not failing. He was only asked to rest formore days. Oga is in good health”.

  • IBB varsity joins e-voting train

    Students of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) in Lapai, Niger State have elected their union leaders. It is the first time they have done so through electronic voting, reports YINKA OLATUNBOSUN (400-Level Chemistry).

    Students of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) in Lapai, Niger State have embraced the electronic method of voting.

    Last Tuesday, they elected their leaders through e-voting. The exercise was conducted by graduates of the institution. The Computer Science graduates used the facilities of the SERVICOM unit to collect data of students and develop a software, which synchronised all the data into a single domain.

    Afterwards, usernames and passwords were generated for the registered students. The log in details could only be used once. Students who did not show up for data capturing were not allowed to vote.

    The exercise was adjudged the best in the history of the university. There were independent observers, who monitored the exercise to ensure transparency.

    The electioneering started with a night of manifesto at the University Lecture Theatre, where the candidates sold their programmes to the students. The event was not without jeering by some students, who booed some of the candidates who they described as “management stooges”.

    At  7:30am on the election day, students flocked to the campus to cast vote. At exactly 9:48am, voting began.  Candidates’ agents, officials of the Students’ Affairs Division, journalists from various media organisations and school security personnel monitored the exercise.

    Dr Ebenezer Ogungbe, SERVICOM’s focal officer and returning officer of the election, said the innovation made the exercise  peaceful and rancor-free, promising that there would be improvement in subsequent elections.

    An electoral committee member, Dr Aliyu Maali, said the e-voting method would end the insinuation that management always imposed its preferred candidates on students. He said: “The voting method is transparent and it is clear to the world. Before the election, we received reports from various quarters that the management was trying to influence the exercise and impose candidates on students. We decided to use e-voting method to avoid any manipulation and put a stop to all speculations.”

    However, Suleiman Abdullahi, 200-Level Computer Science and a poll agent, said his candidate was skeptical about the electronic method, saying: “He felt there could be manipulation and this was why he chose me, a Computer Science student, to observe for him.”

    The voting ended at 7:06pm. The announcement of results by Dr Ogungbe followed a few minutes later. It was gathered that, of the 3,216 that registered for the e-voting, only 1,540 voted. More than 3,665 students did not participate in the exercise.

    Having garnered the highest number of votes, Bashir Shuiabu, an Economics student, was returned as the president-elect. Others elected include Fatima Kutigi, Vice-President; Salihu Saidu, General Secretary;  Abdulmajid Abubakar, Assistant General Secretary and Mahmud Muhammad, Financial Secretary.

    Others are Abubakar Yahaya Bida, Treasurer;  Sani Abubakar, Director of Socials; Bashir Abayomi, Director of Sport and Abubakar Ahmed Yerima, Welfare Director.

    Two representatives were elected from each faculty and hostels into the Students’ Representative Council – the legislative arm of the union.

    Meanwhile, the exercise was not without hitches. There were complaints about the number of laptops used for the exercise. While majority of students hailed the process, some urged the management to provide more computers to make the subsequent election faster.

    Attairu Ibrahim Edda, a student, said the software did not allow any student to vote twice. He praised the software developer for ensuring students choose their representative in a fair contest.

    The chairman of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Niger State chapter, Comrade Munirudeen Oladipupo, who observed the election, hailed the management for conducting what he called “a credible exercise”.

    He said the students’ innovative idea in building software to conduct election showed there was hope for the country as the nation approaches the 2015 general election.

    After the results were announced, some students were seen dancing round the campus with the president-elect. One of them said: “At first, we did not trust the credibility of the e-voting method because there were rumour that the process could be manipulated in favour of an anointed candidate. But we glorify Almighty Allah for the outcome because our will prevailed in the end.”

  • COMMENT

    COMMENT

    For Segun Gbadegesin

    Thank you, for the write up. I wish, as a people we could hear you. Jimmy Carter, an American president lost an election because he could not free some Americans who were held hostage in Iran. Can the same happen here? Anonymous

    Re-Politics, Peoples and Principles.  All the Political parties and majority members in those parties are guilty in Nigeria of Politics without principles. Their actions portend ‘self-interests’. Those that even tag themselves as ‘PROGRESSIVES’ are more guilty of ‘command’ rather than internal democracy. While the ruling party, PDP is guilty of less performance, others can not lay claim to credit of ‘pure performance’, where Internal democracy is lacking! Let all of them go and haved open minds. From Lanre Oseni.

    Do you have principles yourself?  Check your publications & views on issues and individuals when they were on oneside of the political divide, especially the PDP and when they turn or decamp to the other, Particularly ; AD, AC, ACN & later, the APC? Hear you, “but the most daring culprit has always been the party that controls the centre. we don’t have to quibble because the evidence is copious from the begining of the republic” right indeed? Anonymous

    Sir, your write up on politics peoples and principles is most apt one is that there no basis and in all parameters between first republic politicians and those of the present day too. President Jonathan PDP and their Cohorts are holding Nigeria and Nigerians by the jugular and with heartless and ruthless impunity. It is only Gods intervention that can deliver Nigeria especially with the indifference lack of patriotism and politics of greed and stomach infrastructre endemic in Nigeria. From Comrade Solomon Egwuenu,Agbor, Delta State

     

    For Olatunji Dare

    Sir, It is surprising that Babangida at 73 is yet to climb down from his high horse of living a lie. Agreed that he is the greatest mischief strategist of our time, what about the unceasing relay of third grade rulers after him? We need to address is the causative factors of the country’s leadership problems. Two of the problems are, rigid adherence to skewed federalism and a subtle preference for a particular religion as reflected in the constitution. From Adegoke, O. O, Ikhin, Edo State.

    I read your article and was highly moved. Well, let wait and see what becomes Babangida’s end, am sure he will never go unpunished. More of it and remain blessed. Anonymous

    Now that IBB  is close to departure lodge he should appeal to Nigerians for forgiveness for all the havoc he did while in power or he should get an acidic book on him titled collected diatribes on the evil genius by Idaewor Rodsimeon. From Akhilomhe Arevhamhe

    The way Abiola and people like you talks justifies IBB actions, so we should blame Abiola and his likes who use words carelessly, you can not tell me that you will kill me, and expect me to go and sleep without taking any action. Anonymous

    Thanks for your piece IBB@73 the disembler at work. Babangida represents political tragedy! Of a man who could have been great and had every opportunity to be but preferred the perfidious path! Of one who spurned light and embraced darkness. Now full of regret and sorrow.Aware of the sure verdict of history that he bequeathed self aggradizement rather than the greatest good for the greatest number!IBB who may exhibit braggadacio now is sure to enter his grave privately broken and sorry chewing gravel, sand and remorse for what he did to Nigeria! From Boye Leyimu

    Prof Dare, I have a great respect for you as a good journalist in the country but now is like you have forgotten that, Nigeria of today is at cross road that need our attention. We should not allow old wound to resurface again because it will not do us good. Annulment of June 12 have gone for good in the history of this country which should not be issue at all at this present time. IBB is a human being like us and he has accepted the responsillty of all that transpired during his time. Let us learn how to forget and forgive for the progress of the country.  From Hamza Ozi Momoh Apapa Lagos.

    I am an avid reader of your column, even from your days at The Guardian. Please where and how do I get your book ‘Debacle of a Transition’.? God bless u @ 70. Anonymous

    This is one article that is like a cap that fits appropriately the head of our former maradonic leader who wasted many generations of Nigerians. Thanks. From Banigo.

    IBB did well as president,but annullation of free and fair June l2 elections was mistake he made.we wish him happy more years to his age. From Gordon Chika Nnorom.

    My brother IBB is a green snake in a green grass, slow poison, a silent killer, a man that is ready to show you a smiling face but inside him he has finish you. God will pay all of us in our own coins.Anonymous

    Prof Dare how are you today? I read your column of Tue Aug 26 2014 and observed that there were incidents that happened during the Abacha regime that you ascribed to the IBB’s. The murder of the following: Kudirat Abiola, Pa Alfred Rewane and the jailing of Generals Obasanjo and Shehu M Yar’adua. Please you need to revisit your article in order to put the record straight for posterity. Thanks and God bless. Amen. Anonymous

    June 12, I think, shuold be better rememberd as part of the nation’s history, if only that succesive governments can learn from that to avoid the repeat of such tragic event in our polity. After the pogrom of 1966 against the Igbos and then the Biafran War, Ojukwu, the symbol of that struggle, came back to reunite with the then NPN of the North, if only to forget that bitter past and forge ahead with a new united Nigeria. Such patriotic concern,one should be right to  conclude must have equally inspired the formation of a party like APC peopled largely by the Northerners and their Western counterparts presently. Recapturing the ugly incident of the June 12 so vividly always and in a manner that reopens the wound fresh in our hearts, especially at a time we are all striving so hard to move the nation forward on a common platform in the intrest of all, could create disaffection among the rank and file. Let posterity and history be the better judge of IBB –From Emmanuel Egwu

    IBB @73- IBB out of power is like a fish out of water. June 12 will sort him out one day. God qualified him but inordinate ambition disqualified him. From O. Abolade

    For Tunji Adegboyega

    Whoever said the President has the interest of Nigerians at heart should by now have a rethink. The whole country is on fire due to his inability to get things right and the hawks around him called TAN are touring the country without minding the consequence. The President should know that Nigerians deserve to be protected because that was what he swore to do. Any President who cannot protect his people does not deserve to be called that name. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos.

    What Nigerians should ask INEC is if the ban on campaign has been lifted. Is TAN not violating INEC law? It is very unfortunate and unhealthy; in spite of the situation in the country over Ebola virus and insecurity, the so-called TAN has taken Nigerians for granted and started campaigning without looking inward to consider the situation of things. INEC should ask political parties and other such groups to suspend all political activities till the time the ban is lifted on political campaign, in the interest of Nigerians. TAN should consider the issues on ground, so as not to spread Ebola in the country. Let us be conscious of things we do, after all, Ebola has no known cure yet. From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State. 

    With over 200 girls snatched from their dormitory beds in the dead of the night yet to be rescued, with Boko Haram successfully capturing a portion of the country and hoisting their flag, with oil thieves firmly established and having a field day in the Niger Delta, with our military making ‘tactical manoeuvering’ when confronted by a rag-tag  blood-thirsty bunch, with the country  being raped to death on the bed of corruption, with every institution now thoroughly desecrated on the altar of politics, the country has indeed undergone transformation under President Goodluck Jonathan. From Simon Oladapo, Ogbomoso.

    Re: From Boko Haram to Ebola, all this Yoruba propaganda will not work. Goodluck is working; The Nation and TVC cannot remove him. Anonymous.

  • APC chair visits IBB

    APC chair visits IBB

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) wants  all  Nigeria’s past and present  leaders to put aside their political differences  and come together for the purpose of salvaging  the nation.

    National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun,on a courtesy visit to former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida,in Minna  yesterday said  events  in the country border on hopelessness ,and  leaders like Babangida should  use their influence to rescue  the nation from its present state.

    Odigie-Oyegun who was at the head of an APC delegation to the former President said  that for Nigeria  to get back on its feet ,it  would require “a real, inspired, focused and passionate leadership that can help to correct the nation from where it has sidetracked.”

    “We have reached a stage where political labels is not necessary.Every true Nigerian, who means well for the nation knows that this country needs salvage. And to salvage the nation, we need to put aside party labels and come together for a common cause. We just cannot let things continue to go in the direction it is going now,” he said.

    “Every facet of our national life, we have not recorded a single inch of progress. The statistics that concern us as national leaders is not all about building roads or hospitals but to look at the people’s faces if they are satisfied.

    “Do the people have hope for the future? Can the country guarantee the future of the generations to come? Can we bring corruption under control? To do all these is not about building roads or schools.It is about repairing the damage of the psyche of Nigeria. ?Permanent damage has been done to the psyche of the people and it would take true change to bring a reversal to the nation.”

    Responding,Gen.Babangida said  past leaders were already at work  to make the nation  better for the citizens.

    He  hailed the APC  for its position on the need to heal Nigeria  and told  his guests of his preparedness to continue to  work for the growth and prosperity of the country.

  • IBB: bloodletting must stop

    IBB: bloodletting must stop

    Former Military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida yesterday said the prevalent bloodletting by Boko Haram must stop.

    Gen. Babangida, who made his position known in a statement which he personally signed, said the wanton killings and needless bloodletting had been retarding our growth.

    The statement said: “The latest attack in Kaduna on Wednesday by yet unknown persons has once again thrown up new dimensions in the political life of our dear country. This and several other attacks have tended to portray our dear country as a terrorist nation that is grasping with insecurity. To state the least, this bloodletting must stop. This bloodletting has to stop.

    “I have sat back in my quiet retirement home in Minna to ponder over what could be the motivation for these several attacks, but I am yet to find any explanation why Nigerians would be killing fellow Nigerians.

    “For those of us who fought the civil war, our painful sense of nostalgia still remains deep, as much as our patriotic attitude towards this great country, Nigeria.

    “These wanton killings and needless bloodletting have continued to retard our growth and democratic journey, forcing the system to improvise all manner of mechanisms to arrest this descent to anarchy.

    “It is callous and inhuman for anyone to goad this country on the path of perfidy, a path that is laid with landmines and bombs. This is totally unacceptable.”

    Gen. Babangida pleaded with Nigerians to rise above partisanship in addressing the insecurity facing the nation.

    The statement added: “Even as I sympathise with my colleague, former President, General Muhammadu Buhari, for escaping the bomber’s scalpel, I also wish to condole with the families of those who lost their lives in this attack.

    “It is frightening and calls for condemnation by all well meaning people of Nigeria. We all must rise above partisanship in our condemnation of this state of insecurity, as we all must be united in our clear-cut resolve to finding solutions to this hydra-headed situation we find ourselves.

    “We must see this state of insecurity as a Nigerian problem and not one that is pigeon-holed in any particular region, religion or tribe. Nigerians, by virtue of their nationality, should be free to live anywhere in the country without molestation, harassment and intimidation.

    “Let me also condole with Mr. President on this unfortunate incident and the recurring decimal of insecurity and crime against humanity that is fast polluting public morality. We all must join hands with Mr. President at this critical time of our national history and democratic journey to proffer solutions to this anti-development scenario that is fast enveloping us.

    “The President and our governors need our prayers at various stages of their leadership to arrest this ugly trend.”

    Gen. Babangida said the nation must continue to move on, in spite of the setbacks of the past few years.

    He said: “Nigeria of our dream is one that provides opportunity for all, irrespective of our cultural and political differences; a nation that comprises several nation-states with abundant resources and opportunities for our flourishing population.

    “We must, therefore, be resolute in our collective reasoning and determination to trudge on despite these obvious setbacks in order to safely paddle the ship of state to a safe harbor.