High level intrigues as IBB allegedly backtracks on attack on Buhari

Controversy now trails the statement said to have been authored by former military president, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB), in which he appeared to have joined former President Olusegun Obasanjo to demand that incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari be dissuaded from running for a second term in office. The statement was signed by his media aide, Kassim Afegbua.

In what is suspected to be high level intrigues, however, another statement emerged late Sunday in which IBB seemed to have backtracked on his earlier stand. This time, he denied ownership of the harsh statement calling on Buhari not to run in 2019 and berated his spokesman, Afegbua for misrepresenting him.

“Let’s me categorically state that as a former President and Statesman, I have unfettered access and channel of communication with the highest authorities in the country without necessary going public with a sensational statement. Therefore, the views expressed in the alleged statement are not mine but that of the writer,” he said.

IBB’s second statement was allegedly signed by him but distributed by PRNigeria, a well known reputation management team that closely works with the Buhari-led APC administration.

However, Afegbua appeared on Channels TV Sunday night to insist that IBB was actively involved in the statement signed and distributed by him. He alleged that insiders within the Babangida family (unconfirmed sources say the son) were responsible for the emerging controversy.

Rattled by developments, the Presidency is said to have ordered the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris, to effect the arrest of Kassim Afegbua for spreading fake news.

At the time of filing this report, IBB has not physically appeared before the media to state his stance on the raging controversy, neither is there a confirmation of the arrest of his media aide, Afegbua.

Below is the statement distributed by PRNigeria.

MY COUNSEL TO THE NATION –BY GENERAL IBRAHIM BADAMASI BABANGIDA, GCFR

My attention has been drawn to a press statement on the State of the nation with a particular reference to 2019 general elections and beyond.

Let’s me categorically state that as a former President and Statesman, I have unfettered access and channel of communication with the highest authorities in the country without necessary going public with a sensational statement. Therefore, the views expressed in the alleged statement are not mine but that of the writer.

However, with due respect to individual opinion and constitutional rights, it is worrisome that Political events and civil unrest in many parts of the country have raised many questions on the governance and unity of our great nation. Indeed 2018 has been inundated with political clamours and hot debates over the corporate existence of this country. Many of contributions, including constructive criticisms and engagements, have shown greater concerns for the corporate existence of Nigeria beyond 2019 general elections.

It will be recalled that in my recent message on this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day, I specifically expressed the dire need for proactive measures to stop farmers/herders clashes in the middle belt as well as Cattle rustling, armed robbery, Kidnapping, gangsterism and Cultism in other parts of the country.

Our security agencies have to step up surveillance with more efforts on intelligence gathering towards ensuring maximum security of life and property.

Read also: 2019: Opposition against Buhari mounts as IBB urges him to step down

Recent happenings and utterances by political gladiators are 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.
Despite all these challenges, I am optimistic that the political actors will play within the ambits of political norms and decorum to ameliorate the problems facing our society now.

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. Since after my military years that metamorphosed to being the only Military President in the history of Nigeria and my civilian life, 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 pitching political class and the people against one another is unhealthy and must be discouraged by all and sundry.

The clamour for re-alignment of governance in the country as we are approaching the 2019 election year is a welcome development only if the agitations are genuinely channelled through appropriate channels of law and order and the observance of the supremacy of the Constitution. Therefore, any attempt outside this circle of democratic tenants is deceptive and divisive idea capable of plunging our political journey into disarray.

Our present political parties and their structures need parameter pillars that will make them stronger with unique ideologies. However, our present political parties need surgical operations that will align them into a reasonable number. I have been an advocate of a two-party system but in our present reality in Nigeria, our political parties can fusion into a strong political association or party that can form a formidable opposition to a ruling party.

As students of history, we are aware that many advanced democracies have two distinct ideological political parties, with a handful of smaller political groupings that serve as buffer whenever any of the known political parties derailed or became unpopular. I still believe in a two-party system as the best option for Nigeria.

It is high time that we engage in constructive dialogue on national issues in order to have a political solution to our myriad of problems. 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 so as to unite the country in line with the vision of our founding fathers.nation, we can forge ahead in the task of building a more prosperous nation.

SIGNED:
GENERAL IBRAHIM BADAMASI BABANGIDA GCFR, FORMER MILITARY PRESIDENT & COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF NIGERIAN ARMED FORCES.
1 UPHILL DRIVE, MINNA.
SUNDAY, 04TH FEBRUARY, 2018.

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