Lagos — Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, has said there is no going back on his decision to contest the 2011 presidential poll.
He said he remains irrevocably committed to the 2011 race and that he never at any time contemplated withdrawing from the race or changing his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a press statement issued last night by his Media Spokesman Prince Kassim Afegbua, Babangida said: "At no time have I contemplated withdrawing from the race or change my party, PDP. Those who are peddling rumours about my possible withdrawal from the race are at best mischief makers and sycophants who are profiting from the present political scenarios to create unnecessary distractions to me and my overwhelming supporters in my legitimate aspiration to preside over the affairs of this great country through the ballot box."
There have been insinuations in recent times that Babangida would either drop out of the presidential race or move over to the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to pursue his aspiration.
He said he held his supporters in high esteem and had made a solemn resolve not to disappoint them this time round as the 2011 elections draw near.
"I have weighed all the options before I took the decision to contest and I will not renege on those assurances which my overwhelming supporters have given me. We need experienced hand to take some very bold decisions to address the challenges confronting us; insecurity, unemployment, armed robberies, resource control, power generation, true federalism and the economy," he added.
Babangida said: "I wish to state unequivocally that I will pursue this aspiration to a logical conclusion in fulfillment of my conviction that this great country needs an experienced hand to pilot her affairs. My campaign would dwell more on those issues that could provoke the necessary imperatives and initiatives to confront the developmental challenges that we face as a nation."
The former military president asked more Nigerians to join the presidential race to make the process more participatory rather than seeking recourse to 'pull-him-down' syndrome, which is fast becoming the second nature of most of our critics.
Babangida added: "We should dwell more on issues and subject them to critical analysis and synthesis in the court of public opinion as a basis of measuring their strengths and weaknesses. This way, the electorate would be able to form an informed opinion about the aspirants and candidates in preparation for elections.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to focus attention on the compilation of a voter-register that will accommodate all would be voters in the coming elections. The credibility of the electoral process will start from the voters registration process, aware that time is no longer our friend in view of the relevant electoral laws of the land. It is only through credible, free and fair elections that the true representatives of the electorates could emerge.
Meanwhile, the former military leader has restated his call for state police.
"Having viewed the prevailing political atmosphere in the country, particularly with the spate of kidnappings in the country," he said, "I am of the considered opinion that we all must rise up to the occasion and confront this situation head-on before it gets out of hand.
"It has become very imperative for us to consider the introduction of state police to buffet the efforts and activities of the federal police in the areas of intelligence information gathering and overall security of lives and property."
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Mark Anthony in 'Julius Caesar' said " ... THE EVIL THAT MEN DO LIVES AFTER THEM ... So let it be with Caesar". In the case of Nigeria, many will say "... the evil that men do lives after them ... SO LET IT BE WITH BABANGIDA"
This is probably why some have prescribed a similar fate to Babangida as the late dictator Samuel Doe of Liberia. If that would happen, I won't loose a wink of sleep. It won't bother me at all. After all millions of Nigerians died during his reign of terror as a direct result of his maladministration and executions.
Before it reaches that stage however, it will be good if Babangida is given a dose of his bitter pills with regard to the up coming election. He should be BANNED and unbanned several times before the election. Finally he should be banned and jailed. He should be put in the jail where the prisoners were convicted due to offences committed trying to survive the harsh economic conditions his reign of terror unleashed.
There are good grounds to do this. The new INEC chairman can declare the first ban based on his indictment by EFCC during Ribadu's term. Later, indictment by the Oputa panel, for the Halliburton scandal and for numerous other corruption offences.
If the Farida led EFCC is honest they should investigate the source of money for his mansion in Minna. Gowon was head of state for 9 years and yet he did not build a personal house for himself either small or big. The same was true of Dr Opara and other patriots from the south and middle-belt. Similar investigations should be conducted for other Hausa-Fulani Jihadists who used their positions to enrich themselves while depriving ordinary Nigerians even the most basic services.
Babangida has a bloated image of himself. He is used to telling people what to do. Never does he care how people feel or what they think. He deserves to be cut to size by the electoral process. This should continue until his humiliation is complete.
excisionist(a)gmx.com
Babangida has a bloated image of himself. He is used to telling people what to do. Never does he care how people feel or what they think. He deserves to be cut to size by the electoral process. This should continue until his humiliation is complete.
Daniel
Oslo
- excisionist
"Babangida has a bloated image of himself. He is used to telling people what to do. Never does he care how people feel or what they think. He deserves to be cut to size by the electoral process. This should continue until his humiliation is complete. "
Sorry, I meant that the above statement is right on target.
Daniel Oslo
If the Nigerian people want corruption to continue and Nigeria to be 2nd Somalia in the Continent of Africa,Ibrahim Babangida is their Man for 2011 Presidential election. Besides,Nigerians will experience less freedom of expression,there will be no freedom of the Press as journalists who dare to write the truth about Babangida's Administration will be severly punished by his secret police who will be operating as his mafia agents ,who will go all its way to encourage censorship to protect the same dictator that dumped our constitution in the 80s by military coup and put uphis own military laws that still hanging on the necks of the Nigerian People up to date.Who could ever forget Babangida's 2nd/3nd tier approach towards our economy while him and his family plus his military political supporters were busy looting the oil money and banking it in foreign banks like swiss Banks etc when 98% of the Nigerian People were dying as a result of his self centered and myopic economic policies and his own open secrect corruption.Nigerian people should have their brains throughly scanned or re-evaluated to even thinking or considering to let this little minded individual get in power again considering however his past hands stained blood.A vote for Babandiga is a vote for hitler and instability in Nigeria - massive corruption worse than the current , more kidnappings more disappearance of political opponents and more killings of journalists[Dele Giwa]There will be lack of rule of law, human rights will be a thing of the past, security will get to the lowest point in the Nigerian history as him and his Government officials will be busy stealing the oil wealth.Nigeria could be Bin Ladin's safe heaven to help the Government of Babangida to fully impliment his sharia law on Nigerians. Nigerians are intelligent People and should not accept Babandiga's claims to be good boy this time. Fool me once, shame on you,fool me twice shame on me.
If the Nigerian people want corruption to continue and Nigeria to be 2nd Somalia in the Continent of Africa,Ibrahim Babangida is their Man for 2011 Presidential election. Besides,Nigerians will experience less freedom of expression,there will be no freedom of the Press as journalists who dare to write the truth about Babangida's Administration will be severly punished by his secret police who will be operating as his mafia agents ,who will go all its way to encourage censorship to protect the same dictator that dumped our constitution in the 80s by military coup and put uphis own military laws that still hanging on the necks of the Nigerian People up to date.Who could ever forget Babangida's 2nd/3nd tier approach towards our economy while him and his family plus his military political supporters were busy looting the oil money and banking it in foreign banks like swiss Banks etc when 98% of the Nigerian People were dying as a result of his self centered and myopic economic policies and his own open secrect corruption.Nigerian people should have their brains throughly scanned or re-evaluated to even thinking or considering to let this little minded individual get in power again considering however his past hands stained blood.A vote for Babandiga is a vote for hitler and instability in Nigeria - massive corruption worse than the current , more kidnappings more disappearance of political opponents and more killings of journalists[Dele Giwa]There will be lack of rule of law, human rights will be a thing of the past, security will get to the lowest point in the Nigerian history as him and his Government officials will be busy stealing the oil wealth.Nigeria could be Bin Ladin's safe heaven to help the Government of Babangida to fully impliment his sharia law on Nigerians. Nigerians are intelligent People and should not accept Babandiga's claims to be good boy this time. Fool me once, shame on you,fool me twice shame on me.
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