IBB disowns statement issued by spokesman

Former military President Ibrahim Babangida has disowned
a statement which Kassim Afegbua, his spokesman, issued on his
behalf on Sunday.

At excatly 2:03pm, Afegbua sent out the statement with the
title: “Press statement from General IBB on 2019 election”.

The statement was well circulated on media platforms, including
TheNigerialawyer.

But hours later, another statement was issued.

TheNigerialawyer understands that Afegbua would be on Channels
Television on Sunday night to clarify issues on the
controversy.

Below is the new statement personally signed by the former
military ruler:

It has been drawn to my attention a press
statement on the State of the nation, particularly 2019 general
elections and beyond.

Let me categorically state that as former President and
Statesman, I have unfetteredchannel of communication
with the highest authorities without sensational public
correspondence, therefore those views expressed over there are
personal views of the writer.

However, with due respect to individual opinion and
constitutional rights, it is worrisome that Political events and
civil unrest in many part of the country, has
raised many questions on the governance and unity. Indeed 2018 is
inundated with seasons of literatures on the
corporate existence of this country. Many of
such literatures have shown concerns of the
corporate existence of Nigeria beyond 2019 general
elections.

It will be recalled, that in my message to 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, Cattle rustling, armed robbery, Kidnapping, gangsterism and
Cultism. Our security agencies have to step up surveillance with
more efforts on intelligence gathering for maximum
success.

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. 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 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 is unhealthy and skewed.

The clamour for re-alignment of governance in the country as
we are approaching 2019 election year is a welcome development only
if the agitations are genuinely channeledthrough
legislation and total supremacy of the constitution
. 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 more strong with unique
ideologies. However, our present political parties
need surgicaloperation that will fusion
them in to a reasonable numbers. I
have been an advocate of two party systems but
in our present reality in Nigeria, our political parties can fusion
into strong political association/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 parties that serve as buffer whenever
any of the known political parties derailed or became unpopular. I
still believe intwo party systems as the best option
for Nigeria.

It is high time that, we dialogue more on
any issue in order to have a political solution onany
problem affecting us. It is sad that, Nigeria
had its fare 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.

Former military President Ibrahim Babangida has disowned
a statement which Kassim Afegbua, his spokesman, issued on his
behalf on Sunday.

At excatly 2:03pm, Afegbua sent out the statement with the
title: “Press statement from General IBB on 2019 election”.

The statement was well circulated on media platforms, including
TheNigerialawyer.

But hours later, another statement was issued.

TheNigerialawyer understands that Afegbua would be on Channels
Television on Sunday night to clarify issues on the
controversy.

Below is the new statement personally signed by the former
military ruler:

It has been drawn to my attention a press
statement on the State of the nation, particularly 2019 general
elections and beyond.

Let me categorically state that as former President and
Statesman, I have unfetteredchannel of communication
with the highest authorities without sensational public
correspondence, therefore those views expressed over there are
personal views of the writer.

However, with due respect to individual opinion and
constitutional rights, it is worrisome that Political events and
civil unrest in many part of the country, has
raised many questions on the governance and unity. Indeed 2018 is
inundated with seasons of literatures on the
corporate existence of this country. Many of
such literatures have shown concerns of the
corporate existence of Nigeria beyond 2019 general
elections.

It will be recalled, that in my message to 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, Cattle rustling, armed robbery, Kidnapping, gangsterism and
Cultism. Our security agencies have to step up surveillance with
more efforts on intelligence gathering for maximum
success.

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. 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 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 is unhealthy and skewed.

The clamour for re-alignment of governance in the country as
we are approaching 2019 election year is a welcome development only
if the agitations are genuinely channeledthrough
legislation and total supremacy of the constitution
. 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 more strong with unique
ideologies. However, our present political parties
need surgicaloperation that will fusion
them in to a reasonable numbers. I
have been an advocate of two party systems but
in our present reality in Nigeria, our political parties can fusion
into strong political association/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 parties that serve as buffer whenever
any of the known political parties derailed or became unpopular. I
still believe intwo party systems as the best option
for Nigeria.

It is high time that, we dialogue more on
any issue in order to have a political solution onany
problem affecting us. It is sad that, Nigeria
had its fare 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.