Babangida Denies Advising Buhari Against 2019

Former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida has denied reports that he called on President Muhammadu Buhari not to seek re-election in 2019, instead describing the statement as the personal views of the writer and not IBB’s.

Babangida said that “as former President and Statesman, I have unfettered channel of communication with the highest authorities without sensational public correspondence

“I am a realist that believes in all issues in a democratic atmosphere are sincerely discussed and resolved in the spirit of give and take.

“I always have one clear objective that freedom can only be achieved through democracy. Some people find this freedom as an avenue for eroding democracy by antics of hate speeches under the guise of religion, tribal or self-imposed mentorship.

“This trend of pitting political class and the people is unhealthy and skewed…

“Recent happenings and utterances by political gladiators is alarming and not in the interest of common man that is already overstretched and apparently living from hand to mouth due to precarious economic conditions.”

“It is high time that, we dialogue more on any issue in order to have a political solution on any problem affecting us.

“It is sad that, Nigeria had its fair share of conflicts, and we cannot continue to fall back to those dark years of bloodshed.

“As a people, now is the time to come together to address all Communal conflicts and criminality under any guise to further unite the country in line with the vision of our founding fathers so that as a nation, we can forge ahead in the task of building a more prosperous nation.”