August 5, 2024
By Osaiyekemwen Confidence
Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, has firmly dissociated himself from a post circulating on social media claiming he endorsed military rule over democratic governance. In a statement issued by his media office and signed by Mahmud Abdullahi in Minna, General Babangida clarified that the account on X sharing the post is a parody and not his official account.
Babangida emphasized his unwavering support for democratic governance. The statement reads in part: “This dubious account carries our principal’s picture and name and the coat of arms of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for added effect but it does not belong to him nor does the former President sanction any post appearing there.”
To further clarify his stance, the statement continued: “For the avoidance of doubt, General Babangida (rtd) believes that Nigeria’s democracy is resilient and has come to stay and that we must do everything we can to safeguard the process. As a nation, we are currently facing a number of challenges but the former president has always expressed the view that we will eventually overcome these challenges and come out a stronger, more progressive nation. The solution to our problems, as he has said previously, is ‘more’ democracy, not less.”
General Babangida reaffirmed his belief that the era of military intervention in Nigeria’s politics is over, praising the Nigerian military for its consistent support of democratic governments since 1999. He noted that this has allowed Nigeria to experience its longest period of civilian administration since independence, a milestone he regards with pride.
