Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd) has joined in calling on President Muhammadu Buhari not to seek re-election in 2019.
In a press statement released on Sunday by Kassim Afegbua, his spokesman, Babangida urged Nigerians to cooperate with the President until his tenure ends next year, but to be prepared to vote for a new generation of leaders
Babangida’s statement is coming on the heels of a similar message by former President Olusegun Obasanjo who wrote an open letter to Buhari, asking him not to contest in the next presidential election.
The ex-military president stated, “In the fullness of our present realities, we need to cooperate with President Muhammadu Buhari to complete his term of office on May 29th, 2019 and collectively prepare the way for a new generation of leaders to assume the mantle of leadership of the country. While offering this advice, I speak as a stakeholder, former president, concerned Nigerian and a patriot who desires to see new paradigms in our shared commitment to get this country running.
“While saying this also, 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.
“This is the time for us to reinvent the will and tap into the resourcefulness of the younger generation, stimulate their entrepreneurial initiatives and provoke a conduce environment to grow national economy both at the micro and macro levels.”
He said the 2019 elections offer “a unique opportunity for Nigerians”.
“The next election in 2019 therefore presents us a unique opportunity to reinvent the will and provoke fresh leadership that would immediately begin the process of healing the wounds in the land and ensuring that the wishes and aspirations of the people are realized in building and sustaining national cohesion and consensus,” he said.
Babangida also expressed worries about the state of the nation, pointing out incessant clashes and killings across the country.
“In the past few months also, I have taken time to reflect on a number of issues plaguing the country. I get frightened by their dimensions. I get worried by their colorations. I get perplexed by their gory themes. From Southern Kaduna to Taraba state, from Benue State to Rivers, from Edo State to Zamfara, it has been a theatre of blood with cake of crimson. In Dansadau in Zamfara state recently, North-West of Nigeria, over 200 souls were wasted for no justifiable reason. The pogrom in Benue State has left me wondering if truly this is the same country some of us fought to keep together,” he lamented.
