TheNewsGuru

Tag: IBB

  • IBB mourns former Gov. Hashidu

    Former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida,on Friday described the death of former Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Abubakar Hashidu, as a great loss not only to Gombe State, but Nigeria in general.
    In a statement signed by him and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Minna, Babangida said the deceased contributed a lot the development of the country.
    Hashidu, who died on Friday (yesterday) served as Minister of Water Resources, and later that of Agriculture during the regime of Babangida.
    He described Hashidu as a “trusted ally and a technocrat per excellence” that was an asset to his administration in the development of River Basins, and who also ensured the implementation of water resources management policies in the country .
    He also described him as a “political ideologists and a pragmatic politician that accepted the will of the people by conceding defeat in the 2003 election and congratulated the winner.”
    The former Military President extended his hearfelt condolences to the family of the deceased as well as government and people of Gombe State.

  • Babangida mourns ex-IG Coomassie, Justice Katsina –Alu

    A former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, has offered his condolence to the families of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu and Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Coomasie.

    Babangida, in a statement in Minna on Friday, said that he received the news of the death of the two eminent personalities who served in his administration with shock.

    “I recall that Ibrahim Coomasie as Police boss was always proactive and tackled seriously every situation capable of disrupting peace and threatening lives and property of citizens.

    “The former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu was a ‘Fearless Jurist’ and former Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Coomasie, ‘a man of diligence’.

    “Both great men served the nation diligently at turbulent period of our live to keep Nigeria safe. They will always be remembered for their service to this country.”

    He described Katsina-Alu’s death as a great loss to the nation because he was a man of impeccable character, courageous and fearless.

    Babangida prayed that God would grant them eternal rest.

    He also offered his condolence to governments and people of Benue and Katsina states over the loss.

    “They were indeed men of diligence and uprightness. May their souls rest in perfect peace.”

  • IBB calls for two party structures

    Former Military President Ibrahim Babangida has called for a unique two-party structure in an effort to promote and protect the nation’s democratic institutions.

    Babangida made this call in a statement signed by himself and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Monday to commemorate democracy day.

    According to him, it is high time to build a unique two-party structure in the country at this critical period of electioneering year.

    ” Our journey to nationhood and democracy from 1960 to date has been characterised by upheavals and turbulences, yet we must cherish our commitment to remain a united country, in brotherhood and respect for one another.

    ” We must also appreciate the strength and value of our diversity, with due understanding and recognition of the interests of various ethnic nationalities in our hearts,” he said.

    He reiterated resolve as a Nigerian to the unity and indivisibility of our dear nation, which our founding fathers struggled to gain from the British colonial rule.

    ” As we celebrate 19 years of democracy in our country, democratic governance has been polarized along divisive ethnic and religious lines.

    ” It is indeed worrisome that active politicians are not adhering to the rule of the game of politics.

    ” Our political parties since May 29, 1999 have no distinct ideologies with internal squabbles and cross carpeting that is not healthy to our Democracy.

    ” We must also appreciate the strength and value of our diversity, with due understanding and recognition of the interests of various ethnic nationalities in our hearts.

    ” Nigeria has had its share of conflicts and political instability, just like many other nations and states, but we have always survived against all odds,” he said

    The former military president pointed out that in our efforts to promote and protect democratic institutions, we should not forget the roles and sacrifices of our gallant armed forces in the history of nation-building.

    He said it would, therefore, be in our own interest to look for solutions to the problems confronting us as a nation.

    Babangida said, “In whatever circumstance we find ourselves, we must continue to exercise democratic tenants, which promote freedom and respect of one another.”

    While saluting the resilience of Nigerians in adopting democratic structures across the three-tiers of government for an uninterrupted period of eighteen years, he expressed the hope that the general elections next year will further consolidate democratic governance, freedom and security

  • IBB reflects on MKO Abiola: ‘Nigerians still hunting me with my past’

    A former military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida, laments that Nigerians no longer take him seriously because he annulled the June 12, 1993 Presidential election adjudged as the most credible election in the history of Nigeria.

    Babangida said this during a programme on Channels Television titled, ‘Roadmap 2019’ on Monday.

    When asked to explain further if it was true that people dismissed his words because of the annulment of June 12 election, he said, “That is right. They say, ‘he cancelled the freest election in the history but he annulled it’ but nobody gives me credit for conducting the freest election in the country.”

    The former maximum ruler said he was hopeful that the younger generation would understand why he annulled the election.

    He added, “We try to rationalise why we did what we did but nobody is prepared to listen to us. So, it is a matter of time. One day, the younger generation will say they have heard one side and want to hear the other side of the story.

    “Maybe by then we will have a better society that is prepared; that is well-informed of what happened within a period of their existence. They will then be able to say this is the true story.”

    When asked if he would publish his biography soon to tell his story, Babangida said nobody would read it because of his past.

    Babangida said no one had ever reflected the fact that he and the acclaimed winner of the election, MKO Abiola, were friends before and after the annulment.

    When asked if he would publish his biography, he said, “I don’t know. People may not read it because it is coming from a dictator. A lot will say ‘he is the one who cancelled June 12 and that will kill everything that I have to talk about.

    “I hope that one day God will spare my life so that I can discuss it because I still believe people don’t get what we were trying to do. Nobody has ever sat down to say the two personalities are friends, what went wrong.

    “I have never seen anybody write about this to try to give people another version of things. I knew his feelings and he knew my own. We even talked about it during the crisis itself.”

  • 2019: IBB dumps PDP, declares support for rival political party

    Former Military President and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) on Sunday shocked many when he openly declared support for the the Social Democratic Party (SDP) led by former Secretary to the State Government, Chief Olu Falae.

    Speaking in Minna over the weekend when the National Leadership of the Party, led by its Natiional Chairman, Chief Olu Falae visited him at his hill-top mansion in Minna, Babangida said that the Party is real and smart with the zeal to deliver democratic dividends to the people.

    “If I hadn’t being too old, I would have loved to join the youths vanguard of your party. I have faith in the political party, for what it is and what it stand for. When I heard in the news that a party has come on board, the first thing that occurred to me was that the name sound familiar, so I made a decision that I will wait and see how it plays out, I was looking at how SDP will populate itself. And then the next pleasing thing that I heard was that it has people like Olu Falae, Professor Jerry Gana, Professor Adeniran.

    “After that I said this party is real, because most of the names are names that I have known and I have worked with and for the sake of this country, so I said the party is smart to convinced all these gentlemen to come and join them. That is why I did not hesitate to give direction to those who came me to seek advice on which direction to go.”

    Babangida pointed out that the vision he had for the country is the same vision that is shared by those driving the party, adding that, “the security and well being of Nigerians is very important and you have identified this in your programme so Nigerians must rally round you and support you to ensure that this is realizable”.

    Babangida urged the younger generation and women to give their support to SDP as it is “populated by men of integrity, men who when they work, they work well, when they speak, they speak well.”

    Babangida then advised the leadership of the party to make it manifestos public to Nigerians so that they can be hold accountable, “You must tell Nigerians what you intend to do for them because this is very important. The people must know if we vote SDP what do we expect so that it become politics of issues not politics of insult and name calling”.

    In his address earlier, the National Chairman of the Party, Chief Olu Falae said that they were in the state to see General Babangida as part of the Party’s nationwide consultation to brief him on the activities of the party and to solicit for his support and wise counseling.

    Falae said that SDP is a child of necessity, born out of the desire to rescue the country from the present decay in every sphere of lives, “When I was approached to accept all the Progressives who have been frustrated from different political parties to come together to form a formidable team to rescue Nigeria, I readily agreed because this country must be rescued from the present state of corruption and inpunity.”

    Falae lamented that the situation of the nation is becoming worse and needs to be addressed adding that the Fulani herdsmen menace needs to be immediately addressed.

    “Since this present government came on board, the Herdsmen seems to think that they now own Nigeria, and it is a lie, there arms must be taken away from them, their minds must be disabused and while doing that, provision must be made for them to be able to do their business legitimately so that the rest of us can also do our farming business as well because both agriculture and animal husbandry are good to the country economy.

    “Nigeria as a country is passing through a terrible time, the present government talks about fighting corruption all the time but corruption today is worst than it was in the immediate past. “

    He gave the assurance that when SDP takes over the government in 2019, they will reduce corruption to the nearest minimum, “Corruption can be fought if we the leaders genuinely embrace transparency not what we are seeing today.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the acclaimed winner of the 1993 Presidential elections, Chief MKO Abiola which was annulled by the then military president, Babangida contested on the platform of the SDP.

     

  • 2019: Obasanjo, IBB can’t stop Buhari’s second term bid – Shittu

    Adebayo Shittu, the Minister of Communications, says former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other ex-military leaders cannot hinder President Muhammadu Buhari’s chance of being re-elected in 2019.

    Shittu, speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, said since the former Nigerian leaders “are not God, there should be no apprehension’’.
    Buhari had on Monday declared his intention to seek re-election.

    Reacting to Buhari’s declaration, the minister said the action was a welcome development, urging APC supporters to discard fear of Obasanjo.

    “Who is OBJ? OBJ is not God. IBB is not God. Obasanjo was president here, he wanted a third term and he didn’t get it.

    “What Mr President did yesterday (Monday), we had done that much back on his behalf; that is the Mohammadu Buhari/Osinbajo Dynamic Support Group.

    “So what he did yesterday was just a follow-up to what we had done about three months ago.

    “And I want to assure you is that by the grace of God, Mohammadu Buhari will become president the second time,” he said.

    “The president has distinguished himself as his achievement in three years had surpassed what the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Nigeria in 15 years.

    “For instance in the area of job creation for youths, no government has ever in one day employed 200, 000 graduates. It has never happened but under Buhari N-Power it happened.

    “Through this, he has provided jobs for 200, 000 families spread across the length and breadth of Nigeria.

    “Government is still processing the employment of 300, 000 more graduates to make it 500, 000, this has never happened.
    “In the areas of transport, works and housing, the last budget of the PDP government was less than N20 billion and most of these monies were stolen; diverted to private pockets.

    “In 2017 alone, the Buhari government spent N255 billion on those subject matters; transport, works and housing. So how do you compare?

    “Today, government is also building new roads across the South East states with 100 million dollars SUKUK loan; non interest loan from Islamic Development Bank.

    “For the first time, government is building new railway from Lagos to Kano, from Kano to Maiduguri, from Maiduguri to Calabar and from Calabar to Lagos. So the records are there,” he added.

  • 2019: IBB, Obasanjo’s outbursts are anti-democratic – Carl Umegboro

    2019: IBB, Obasanjo’s outbursts are anti-democratic – Carl Umegboro

    By Carl Umegboro

    Former military President, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and his counterpart, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo have relentlessly expressed their respective opinions on the state of the nation vis-à-vis the forthcoming presidential election. In their views, Babangida openly, but diplomatically advised President Muhammadu Buhari to withdraw his interest for the 2019 election to enable younger generation take up the mantle, whilst on the other hand, Obasanjo punctured the performance of the present administration which he rated so low, and therefore vowed that President Buhari must go back to his house at the end of his first tenure to enable capable hands take up the challenges.

    Incidentally, whilst Gen. Babangida’s views sound more patriotic, Obasanjo’s may not on account that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) he led as President for two tenures and was forcefully estopped from elongating his tenure to stay in power for third term recently zeroed the party’s 16 years in power and tendered apology to Nigerians over colossal failures of the party. It is also on record that Obasanjo after his failed third term bid imposed himself as the PDP’s chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) until overpowered by a stronger force and therefore cannot be exonerated from the party’s failures. It therefore implies that Obasanjo has no moral justification to advice a political party that is yet to complete a term in office. It is also irrational that the comparison of PDP and APC loans/debt profile didn’t distinguish them clearly as PDP’s loans were for consumption and payment of salaries while APC’s were strictly anchored on infrastructural development which is a conventional norm, and therefore inevitable for significant attainments.

    Above all, the provisions of the 1999 constitution lays down the requirements for citizens aspiring to contest elective positions including the office of the President of the country. It is therefore anti-democratic to publicly charge any eligible citizens not to contest except communicated privately. The acceptable mechanism for determination of who occupies elective positions is the electorates’ votes through Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs). Interestingly, the use of card readers has drastically reduced the possibility of riggings and other manipulations that were in vogue in the past.

    Thus, the appropriate and patriotic actions shouldn’t be to unnecessarily heat up the polity by public advices and advocacy. Democracy is a game of numbers, and therefore opens doors for any dick and harries to test acceptability, credibility, capability and integrity through elections. Participatory democracy opens doors for the electorates; high, middleclass and masses to freely choose their leaders and not for former presidents to decide as witnessed in the 16 years of PDP that put the nation in colossal retrogression. It is thus, absurd to openly mandate any aspirant to withdraw from a race contrary to constitutional provisions which connotes inferiority complex. Presently, over a hundred political parties have been registered; hence mobilization alongside sensitization is the key.

    Umegboro, public affairs analyst writes from Abuja. (umegborocarl@gmail.com / 07057101974 SMS only)

  • Obasanjo, IBB had the opportunity to make Nigeria great, they never did- Femi Kuti

    Femi Kuti, a musician and son of legendary Afro beat musician, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, said Obasanjo and IBB had the opportunity to make Nigeria great, but they never did.

     

    Kuti made this known in an interview with Goldmyne TV in Lagos.

     

    Femi Kuti said former Nigerian presidents; Obasanjo and IBB keep condemning others, but failed to change the country when they had the opportunity.

     

    “They keep coming out, especially Obasanjo to criticize other people. I am not in support of any government. Obasanjo has ruled this country two times, He has had every opportunity to give us good education, good road and improve the health sector.

     

    “He has had all the opportunities. He even wanted to run for the third term. His daughter even criticized him on pages of the newspaper. I don’t know him, he is not my father , brother or uncle. We are not related”.

    Femi’s musical career started when he began playing in his father’s band, Egypt 80. In 1986, Femi started his own band, Positive Force, and began establishing himself as an artist independent of his father’s massive legacy.

     

    His first record was released in 1995 by Tabu/Motown, followed four years later by Shoki Shoki (MCA), which garnered widespread critical acclaim.

     

    In 2001 he collaborated with Common, Mos Def and Jaguar Wright on Fight to Win, an effort to cross over to a mainstream audience, and started touring the United States with Jane’s Addiction. In 2004 he opened The Shrine, his club, where he recorded the live album Africa Shrine

     

    After a 4-year absence due to personal setbacks, he re-emerged in 2008 with Day by Day and Africa for Africa in 2010, for which he received two Grammy nominations. In 2012 he was both inducted into the Headies Hall of Fame (the most prestigious music awards in Nigeria), was the opening act on the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ European arena tour and became an Ambassador for Amnesty International.

     

    I have applied to be Commissioner for Happiness- Tee Mac

     

  • Just in: IBB, Jonathan absent at Buhari’s Council of State meeting

    President Muhammadu Buhari is, at present, presiding over a meeting of the Council of State.

    Former leaders absent are Ibrahim Badamasi Babamgida, Goodluck Jonathan, Shehu Shagari and Earnest Shomekan are absent.

    Although, all living past Presidents and Heads of Government are members of the Council, former President Goodluck Jonathan, former President Shehu Shagari and former military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida are absent.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.) and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), are however attending the meeting which is the third of such under Buhari.

    The meeting, which began at 11:05am, is also being attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    Gowon and a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Uwais, said the opening prayer.

    Before the meeting started, President Buhari had gone round the Council Chambers to shake hands with his visitors.

    The governors in attendance are those of Sokoto, Delta, Adamawa, Imo, Benue, Lagos, Nasarawa, Abia, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kebbi, Plateau, Kano, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Ekiti, Zamfara, Ogun, Niger and Ebonyi States.

    Former Chief Justices of Nigeria, Idris Kutigi and Aloma Muktar are also in attendance.

    A one-minute silence was observed in honour of the late former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Mustapha

  • IBB urges PDP to provide Nigerians better choice of leadership come 2019

    Former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, has urged the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to provide a better choice for Nigerians at next year’s general elections.

    According to a statement on Sunday by PDP’s spokesperson, Kola Ologbodiyan, Mr. Babangida said this in Minna, Niger State, on Saturday, while receiving members of the National Working Committee of the party led by its National Chairman, Uche Secondus.

    The party, which lost power in 2015 to the ruling All Progressives Congress, is working to bounce back in 2019.

    It says its ongoing “rebranding and repositioning” would brighten the party’s chances at the polls next year.

    According to Mr. Ologbondiyan, Mr. Babangida expressed satisfaction with the rebranding so far achieved by the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    “I am happy at your assurances that there will be no imposition in all your primary elections. It is all about choice and you have promised to provide the best choice,” he said.

    “Your ‘Reposition, Rebrand and Regain’ agenda is working and I mean particularly the rebranding. Some people believed that having been in government since 1999, the PDP will find opposition difficult but you are carrying on well and providing a better alternative.

    “You have also not abandoned the people in times of crisis. I monitored your activities in Benue, Taraba and you just said your party has sent members to Zamfara to commiserate with the people. Surely you have made the people the centre of your return and they will not forget you because you were with them in time of sorrow.”

    Earlier, at the meeting, Mr. Secondus told Mr. Babangida that former leaders of the nation must rally together to save the nation from the current administration.

    He lamented the killings and economic hardships, which he said Nigerians contend with on daily basis, stressing that the country has never witnessed “the type of division “our people are currently facing.

    “As a leader, you made the welfare of Nigerians the thrust of governance. You were also concerned about the peace and unity of this nation. You created and built people as well as institutions,” he told the former leader.

    “Today, our nation is drifting and as leaders you cannot afford to keep quiet and watch on the sides. Leaders like you must come together and take a firm position on how to save our nation from the precipice.”

    “PDP remains the only alternative platform based on our experience more so because we have learnt our lessons. We have resolved to play by the rules and operate within the confines of our party’s and the Nigerian constitution.

    “We are rebranding and repositioning to make our party open to all and regain the land for the people. We are determined to give opportunities to the youths and our women. We also want to mentor a new generation of young Nigerians that will take our nation to the next millennium”.

    Mr. Secondus urged Nigerians to rally round the repositioned PDP to restore the nation once more to the path of peace, national unity and economic prosperity.

    Mr. Babangida, who was forced out of power in 1993 in the crisis that greeted his annulment of the presidential election of that year, is a member of the PDP although he had announced his withdrawal from partisan politics.