NIGERIA NEEDS NEW GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP
Emmanuel Thomas l Sunday, February 04, 2018
LAGOS, Nigeria – Nigeria’s former military dictator, General Ibrahim Babangida has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to forget about running for the 2019 general election.
Babangida spoke just few weeks after former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo delivered same message to President Buhari in a Special Press Statement, telling him not to stretch his luck by contending the 2019 election, warning that he would be disgraced if he goes ahead to contest and called for a coalition of Nigerians, which has been launched in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.
In several tweets, IBB indicted President Buhari of allowing his personal ambition to override national interest just as many have said that the President is allowing his business interest to override national interest in tackling the menace of Fulani Herdsmen who have killed dozens of Nigerians in the middle belt.
“When APC campaigned with change, I had thought they would device new methods, provoke new initiatives and proffer new ways to addressing some of our developmental problems. By now, we should have passed this developmental stage, but unfortunately they wasted our time.
“I do not intend to deny President Buhari his inalienable right to vote and be voted for, but there comes a time in the life of a nation, when personal ambition should not override national interest. We need new leadership to contend with the dynamics of a 21st century Nigeria.
“I am not satisfied with the performance of the ruling APC Government. The President should forget seeking re-election & never let his personal ambition override Nigeria’s interest. It’s time he pave way for new generation leaders to assume the mantle of leadership of the county.
“As patriots, we cannot pretend we don’t know what Nigerians are going through because we are statesmen. As an Elder, I will like to quote my boss, Obasanjo, Who said ‘I will die for my country Nigeria, but not for my party and ethnicity”, he said, adding that no serving General in the Nigerian Army today joined the military earlier than 1982.
“By then, Obasanjo had already finished his military career. I respect him a lot, he is a true statesman”, he said.
